TUAC NEWS
Put Fairness back at the Heart of G8 Economies in Lough Erne
Global Unions Statement released
14/06/2013
- G8 Global Unions Statementpdf
As the G8 summit is approaching, the ITUC and TUAC have released a Global Unions statement insisting that the central goal of the gathering needs to be a policy turn towards achieving economic fairness in developed economies. This year’s presidency’s focus on tax, trade and transparency is welcomed. However, it has to deliver practical policy results after the summit, as well. As Global Poll results show, citizens expect action on tax justice.
With 48 million unemployed workers in the OECD area alone and youth unemployment rates at record levels, the G8 also needs to endorse policies that will restore sustainable, equitable and inclusive growth and create decent work according to ILO standards.
The key aspects that Global Unions want to see as results coming out of the Lough Erne Summit are as follows:
- on Tax
Unions are calling on G8 leaders to
set a roadmap for an automatic exchange of information, support the
G20/ OECD initiative on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS), as
well as the introduction of a Financial Transaction Tax
(FTT);
- on Trade
Unions call for trade agreements
that embody the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights,
and promote decent work and good production conditions -
specifically in view of Global Value Chains and the recent factory
collapse in Bangladesh that was only one of many recent industrial
disasters;
- on Transparency
Unions welcome the United Kingdom’s
decision to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
and urge other G8 members to do the same, as well as start to
requiere companies to disclose data on beneficial ownership.
For more details and policy recommendations, download the Global Unions G8 Statement here. The Global Poll results can be consulted on the ITUC website.