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Turkish L20 kicks off with presentation to G20 Sherpas meeting in Istanbul

06/01/2015


The L20 joined the first G20 Sherpa meeting under the Turkish Presidency in Istanbul on 15-16 December 2014 for an outreach session where it presented initial L20 priorities for the 2015 Turkish presidency (http://www.ituc-csi.org/l20-briefing-note-for-the-g20). Turkey announced that its priorities are to focus on 3 I’s: “Inclusiveness, Implementation and Investment” – the L20 had proposed a similar framework last year and had added “Inequality reduction” to the mix. The Presidency announced to specifically focus on Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) and developing countries. They also confirmed that outreach to social partners and civil society will remain an integral part of the G20 process this year.

The L20 Steering Committee members, TURK-İŞ (who is the committee chair), DİSK and Hak-iş were present at the meeting and made introductory remarks on the international labour movements priorities (http://www.ituc-csi.org/g20-sherpas-meeting-turkey-15). Together with the ITUC and TUAC, the Turkish national trade union centres ensure the continuity with past and future L20 policy advocacy and bring the voice of the global trade union movement to the G20 discussions. The L20 representatives highlighted the main concerns for 2015 including:
  • stalled growth,
  • joblessness,
  • rising inequality
  • climate change
A sustainable future requires new economic thinking at the centre of which should be: Full Employment, Fair Wages, Tax Justice, a regulated Financial System, transition to a Low-carbon Economy, and a new Trade and Investment Model leading towards Inclusive Development.
 
In moving forward, the L20 will also be taking stock of past G20 commitments including those at the Brisbane Summit. The L20 identified some follow up actions as well as  gaps that need to be addressed in 2015:
  • The commitment to raise growth by 2.1%
  • Follow-up on the promise to increase aggregate demand
  • Monitoring of commitments to achieve policy progress and coherence
  • Increase the female labour market participation rate by 25 % by 2025
  • The Declaration on Safer Workplaces
  • Rising income inequality – which remained unaddressed during the Australian Presidency
  • The strengthening collective bargaining and labour market institutions as well as establishing an effective social security floors in all G20 countries
  • Follow-up and diversification of policies promoting infrastructure investments
  • Achieving tax justice and implementing the BEPS Action Plan
  • Enhancing policy action on climate change and financial regulation
  • Social upgrading in global value chains
The L20 will continue to prepare inputs to all G20 meetings throughout the coming year and undertake a detailed assessment of the national growth plans that were agreed upon in Brisbane. Our Tracking report released at the Brisbane Summit showed that the majority of policies from the Saint Petersburg Action plan that had been implemented did not have a direct or positive impact on workers and their families. In addition, unemployment will not be falling next year in most G20 countries. Therefore, we believe that concrete action on quality job creation is essential. This especially concerns the promotion of a qualified and employed youth work force. The L20 will be working with the Turkish presidency to involve unions in implementation procedures and dialogue to bring in the voice of workers to the G20.