G20 labour, employment ministers meet, agree on policies to shape future of industry

The G20 Ministers of Labour and Employment have adopted policy recommendations on skills development, social protection and working conditions for countries to shape a future that works for people around the globe.

Director-General, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Guy Ryder, said the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers have made an important contribution to policies for inclusive growth and development, following the adoption of a declaration entitled ‘Towards an Inclusive Future: Shaping the World of Work.’

The meeting held in Germany was chaired by the German Labour and Social Affairs Minister, Andrea Nahles.

Ryder said “the Declaration calls for employment and social policy packages for inclusive growth so that the global economy works for everyone. The measures identified in the Declaration give the G20 countries a range of options to harness the changes that are occurring in the world of work so that we create more jobs with better working conditions.”

On the future of work, the Ministers agreed that technological change and digitalisation, globalisation, demographic transitions, and changing expectations about work are fundamentally altering our labour markets and creating new opportunities and challenges.

They adopted detailed policy recommendations for countries to shape a future that works for people around the globe covering skills development, social protection, social dialogue on adaptable and fair work arrangements and working conditions, regional programmes and sustainable enterprises.

“The G20 is making a big step forward today to make sure that the changes are for the better and reach everybody. I look forward to Ministers’ active engagement in the ILO Future of Work Centenary Initiative,” said Ryder.

The head of the ILO also welcomed important contributions by the governments of Germany and Norway to the Vision Zero Fund, which will help to prevent and reduce the unacceptable number of workplace-related deaths, injuries and diseases around the globe by improving occupational safety and health practices in global supply chains.

Among the issues discussed by Ministers was reducing gender gaps in labour force participation and pay by improving women’s job quality. Ryder said, “the recommendations itemize an integrated agenda of mutually reinforcing measures that would help accelerate the pace of change in favour of working women and to everybody’s interest.”