The Labour 20 (L20) is the elected representatives of trade unions from G20 countries, representing the voice of workers. Meeting formally for the first time in Cannes, it is composed of the General Secretaries and Presidents of G20 trade unions, charged with a responsibility to uphold the interests of working people.
During the Mexican Presidency the Labour 20 worked closely with B20 and drew up a joint statement calling G20 for action on infrastructure investments, quality apprenticeships and reducing informality.
The Russian Presidency considers Labour 20 as an integral part of its outreach strategy and will provide an opportunity to representatives of labour unions from G20 countries to continue regular consultations with the Business 20 (B20) to ensure their contributions being taken into account by the business community and to convey messages from the world of work to G20 Sherpas, Ministers and Leaders. In this regard the Russian Presidency has proposed to hold a meeting of social partners (B20 and L20) followed by their joint meeting with G20 Labour Ministers.
Labour 20 agenda is formed by the participants. The priority topics of the Labour 20 in 2013 are the following:
The above topics are of relevance to the world of work and reflect the agenda of the Russian G20 Presidency. Through the number of meetings and other events in the upcoming year the Labour 20 will conduct in-depth analysis of the situation in identified areas and together with other outreach groups, including Business 20, Civil 20 and Youth 20, will develop recommendations to be transmitted to the respective G20 working groups, taskforces and ministerial meetings.
Labour 20 Summit
The Labour 20 Summit took place in Moscow on July 17, on the eve of the social partners' consultations with the G20 Labour Ministers and two days prior to the Joint G20 Finance and Labour Ministers' Meeting. It was organized by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR) and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES Moscow) together with the L20.
Labour 20 representatives held discussions on sustainable, green and inclusive growth, quality employment creation and financial regulation, and put forward a statement for the G20 Leaders and Ministers to take into consideration in their final statements, urging them to translate past and future commitments into tangible policies.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Director General Guy Ryder, OECD General Secretary Angel Gurria, Russian G20 Sherpa Ksenia Yudaeva, and Russian Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection Aleksey Vovchenko were present at different sessions. The Summit also hosted consultations with the Business 20 on future collaboration and included a Labour 20 press-conference on the common commitment to quality apprenticeships, future steps, as well as on the L20 priorities and the ITUC Global Poll for G20 countries.
The Labour 20 Summit prepared policy recommendations and key messages to the Joint Finance and Labour Ministers' Meeting and the G20 Leaders' Summit in September. It also clarified the next steps for the B20-L20 Dialogue and future Labour 20 engagements with the G20.
Work Program and Timeline
Date |
Meeting |
December 11-12, 2012 |
ILO Decent Work Conference and Launch of L20 |
March 2013 |
ITUC/TUAC Working Group on Economic Policy Preparation of L20 statement and consultations with Sherpas |
Spring 2013 |
L20 Consultations with G20 Employment Task Force |
May 2013 |
Adoption of L20 statement at TUAC Plenary Session in cooperation with ITUC |
17 July, 2013 |
Joint meeting of social partners (L20 and B20) |
17 July, 2013 |
|
18 July, 2013 |
G20 Labour Ministers Meeting with social partners |
Autumn 2013 |
Follow-up assessment and preparation for the Australian G20 Presidency |