Labor & Employment Law

Keep the Focus on Jobs at the World Economic Forum

By James Parks

On the same day the International Labor Organization warned that worldwide unemployment is still a crisis, the global union movement issued a statement calling on participants in the World Economic Forum to keep their focus on jobs.

The labor delegation to the forum, which includes AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, said, ?policymakers must stay focused on stimulating enough economic demand to achieve full employment.?

The ultimate solution to government budget deficits is more employment, higher wages and, hence, increased tax revenue.

The statement also calls for:

• Upholding labor rights globally and expanding collective bargaining;
• Raising minimum wages and enhancing social protections around the world.
• Regulating international finance and creating a financial speculations tax.
• Investing in infrastructure and social protections.
• Creating green jobs by combating climate change.
• Returning the G-20 (the world?s top 20 economies) to an agenda of jobs and growth.

Click here to read the full trade union statement.

Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and leader of the labor delegation, says:

Not long after having been bailed out, financiers are again awarding themselves record bonuses and dictating government policy. Their approach is cooking up a cauldron of youth unemployment that most recently boiled over in Tunisia. We must reregulate international finance to limit speculation and instead facilitate real economic activity. As we rebuild from the ashes of the crisis, a better world is possible.

The forum begins tomorrow in Davos, Switzerland, and brings together the world?s top political, business, intellectual and other leaders for an annual discussion of global economic issues.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on January 25, 2011 (boomark / email).