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ILO glad G20’s focus returns to growth, jobs, social protection


International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General Juan Somavia has welcomed over the weekend the G20 Leaders Summit's focus on growth, jobs and social protection – particularly as regards global discontent with employment and social conditions in many cities and countries around the world. The Group of Twenty (G-20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors was established in 1999 to bring together systemically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy. The G20 meeting in Cannes took place amid weakening economic recovery, with the global economy seen on the verge of a new and deeper employment recession. Over the weekend in Cannes, France, G20 Leaders put a strong emphasis on growth and jobs within the group’s “Framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth," following a recent ILO report warning of a deeper employment recession amid the global economic slow down. Somavia said the G20 Leaders have recognized the importance of investing in nationally designed social protection floors as detailed in a recent ILO report prepared together with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report “Social Protection Floor for a Fair and Inclusive Globalization," submitted by former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet on Oct. 27, has warned that the global economic slow-down could result in a massive jobs shortfall among G20 countries by next year. TF Employment to focus on youth jobs The G20 has established a Task Force on Employment to initially concentrate on youth employment, which at present was between two to three times higher than adults’ unemployment. The Task Force will be convened under the Mexican Presidency of the G20. “G20 Leaders are connecting their macroeconomic agenda to policies for decent work, a better start in working life for young women and men, and social protection floors to prevent extreme poverty" said Somavia in a statement at the G20 leaders summit. “If pursued and implemented with determination, it will start to rebuild confidence among working people that governments are able and ready to manage the global economy in their interest," he said. 'Representatives of the real economy' Noting the G20 Leaders’ support for the role of social dialogue, Somavia highlighted the importance of inviting representatives of the real economy – labor and business – to contribute to the group’s policy debates so that the voices of those who represent the people who actually build strong, sustainable and balanced economies are heard at the highest level. “It is vital that the voices of those who represent the people who actually build strong, sustainable and balanced economies are heard at the highest level," said Somavia. As a contribution to the G20 Summit, the B20 for business and the L20 for labor issued a joint statement addressing employment policy initiatives especially for youth, social protection floors, fundamental principles and rights at work, and policy coherence in the multilateral system. Int’l organizations roles in jobs creation As part of the implementation for jobs creation, the G20 leaders tasked the ILO, OECD and the International Monetary Fund and World Bank (IMF-WB) to report to finance ministers on the global employment outlook and how sustainable and balanced growth contribute to jobs creation. The G20 called on these international organizations to move towards greater coherence between employment and social issues as well as economic and monetary and financial issues on the other side. The G20 also stressed its commitment to promote and ensure full respect of the fundamental principles and rights at work, and encouraged the ILO to continue to promote ratification and implementation of the eight fundamental ILO conventions. —MRT/VS, GMA News

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