Brussels, 24/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the OECD have presented their “International Trade Union Statement to the G20 and G8 Summits” (Toronto, Ontario). This statement proposes a global plan to lift the world economy out of recession. The plan, which focuses on employment and sustainable economic recovery, was presented, on 18 June, by a trade union delegation from the G20 countries to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who will host the G8 and G20 summits at the end of this month.
In their action plan, the unions call on the G20 inter alia to: - retain stimulus measures that focus on jobs and growth, and support measures that place a sustainable labour market model based on decent work at the centre of the post-crisis policy framework; - halt speculative attacks on currencies and deliver fair taxation including implementing a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) to curb speculative behaviour whilst raising the necessary funds to pay for the crisis and other public goods; - build a new paradigm for global governance based on full employment, establish a standing G20 Working Group on Employment that includes the social partners, and support social partner participation in all G20 summits and consultation with the Financial Stability Board (FSB).
They call on G8 Leaders in particular to: - meet aid commitments and support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), invest in public services, place decent work at the heart of development assistance and support women's economic empowerment; - implement the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) “social protection floor”, through the creation of a Social Protection Fund and ensure that emerging and developing countries are given both the resources and the policy space for its implementation. The statement is available (in English) at: http: //http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/Final-Trade_Union_Statement_to_G20_Toronto_.pdf
The ITUC represents 176 million workers in 312 national organisations from 155 countries and territories. (G.B./transl.rt)