Decent Employment Without Exploitation Will Help Make Poverty History: G20 : Melbourne Indymedia

Decent Employment Without Exploitation Will Help Make Poverty History: G20
ACTU Media Release 16 November 2006

ACTU President and Unions International President Ms Sharan Burrow will be speaking today (Thurs 16 Nov) at the Make Poverty History forum, 'Creating a Fairer World: What should the G20 do?' in Melbourne.

The Make Poverty History forum provides an opportunity to discuss ideas and plans for combating global poverty and working towards a fairer world.

Ms Burrow will be concentrating her talks on the key message of - Decent employment without exploitation, in her capacity as president of the newly established global trade union body, Unions International - International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Unions International gives a global voice to 166 million workers throughout 156 countries and territories across the globe, including each of the G20 countries.

Ms Burrow said this is a vital forum to discuss effective ways we can all get involved to cut poverty and create a fairer world of all people, not just the wealthy few.

"We need more than talk and discussion, it is time for G20 to step up and implement polices that can get fair employment and work opportunities moving throughout the world.

"Decent employment without exploitation is the only sustainable solution to poverty. Our governments have a responsibility to start creating more job opportunities that get their people into productive work.

"The G20 cannot achieve sustained economic growth unless it prioritises employment growth to alleviate global poverty. Trade unions and civil society organisations are key partners with governments and international financial institutions in achieving that effectively.

"The G20 accounts for 90 per cent of the world's output; 80 per cent of world trade and two-thirds of the world's population. We welcome this meeting of economic leaders and urge their action through: promoting growth through decent work for all, respect for labour rights and sustainable economic, social and environmental development, fighting discrimination to achieve equality and ending child labour.

"The international trade union community and Make Poverty History need to work together to get the most out of this important international economic gathering. Our message to G20 is simple: do more to stop poverty and do more to narrow the gap between the world's rich and poor. Create 400 million safe, secure jobs with decent hours and pay, and skills training.

"In particular, the G20 needs to set in place goals to not only get people out of poverty and stop the 30,000 children dying everyday from preventable poverty, it needs to look at the how it can stop this cycle of poverty by achieving more opportunities for fair and proper work for the world's people.

"The growth in the global economy is welcomed by all, but there are still more than two billion people living on less than $2 US a day, 187 million unemployed, 80 million of them young people.

"It is time for action - the G20 needs to start now with policies that will lift people out of poverty through decent employment opportunities. This will go a long way towards achieving the G2O's primary aim of supporting growth and development across the globe", said Ms Burrow.

Contact Details
Ian Wilson
Ph: 0408 513 849
iwilson@actu.asn.au