GENEVA (ILO News) – The Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO), Juan Somavia, today welcomed the conclusions of the G8 Labour and Employment Ministers Conference as a "positive step toward a fairer and more inclusive globalization process that ensures opportunities for all."

Meeting in Stuttgart, Germany, on 14-16 December, the ministers called for stronger consideration of a social dimension of globalization at the multilateral level, and for growth and employment to be central political objectives across all policy fields. To promote these objectives, the ministers suggested the creation of an inter-agency forum consisting of the ILO, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (Note 1).

ILO Director-General Juan Somavia commended the ministers' focus on employment as a principle objective of globalization, and pledged his support in furthering this goal at the multilateral level.

"The G-8 Ministers' conclusions, urging a stronger social dimension and calling for employment and growth to be the guiding principles of globalization, are an important recognition of the need to shape the processes of international economic integration through the creation of decent work opportunities worldwide, especially in the developing world", Mr. Somavia said. "This is an important step towards a global strategy for growth, investment and more and better jobs."

This week's meeting of the Labour and Employment Ministers from the G8 countries included representatives from the ILO, the European Commission and OECD to discuss the central role of social dialogue and employment policy in an era of rapid change provoked by globalization. The Ministers also held consultations with representatives of business and trade unions. The conclusions of the G8 meeting in Stuttgart will be considered by the G8 of heads of State next year in the United States.

In a background paper prepared for the meeting (Note 2), the ILO asked for leadership from the G8 countries in developing a global employment strategy and shaping a balanced pattern of globalization.

Early in 2004, the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization established by the ILO will release a major report. The Commission has examined how international and national policies could be changed to increase and spread more widely the benefits of globalization.

Note 1

Note 2 - Toward Closer International Cooperation in Employment Policies, background paper by the International Labour Organization for the G8 Labour and Employment Ministers Conference, Stuttgart, 14-16 December 2003.