TUAC - TRADE UNION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE OECD

16/05/2008

Trade union concerns did eventually force their way on to the agenda of the G8 Labour Ministers' meeting in Niigata on 11-13 May through the consultations with the social partners and are in part reflected in the Chair’s conclusions. The trade union group meeting the Ministers called for action on rising inequality and the decent work deficit. The impact on jobs of the growing economic crisis rising inequality and the growth in precarious jobs were eventually discussed by G8 Labour Ministers – although these issues were not originally on their agenda.

In an evaluation of the meeting TUAC has said the conclusions of the Ministers often point in the right direction but are couched in general terms and weak language that sounds aspirational rather than concrete. This leaves doubt about the follow-up and implementation of commitments. The new issue addressed by Ministers is the interrelation between the environment and climate change – here issues of “green job creation” and workplace action are raised and the Niigata “global balance principle” that reflects them is to be presented to the G8 leaders meeting at Hokkaido in July.

After the Niigata meeting the unions went on to meet the Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda in Tokyo and called for effective follow-up at the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit in July.

Related documentation:

• Tuac evaluation of Niigata conclusions
• Chair's conclusions
• Trade union statement to the Labour Ministers meeting
• Trade union statement to the Hokkaido Toyako Summit
• Press clippings