International unions make G8 plea on workers' rights

As G8 Labour Ministers prepare to meet in London, the international trade union movement ICFTU today warned workers rights must be part of any global economic development.

In a statement released today, produced by the TUAC - Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD - the ICFTU outlined that G8 Labour Ministers must quickly react to counter the growing pressure on employment standards in developing and industrialised countries.

The union movement blamed China's rising share of the manufacturing export market, the end of the textile quota system in December and the outsourcing of service sector and white collar jobs for this pressure.

"Proper coordinated and effective international action is the only way to prevent abuses of fundamental workers' rights. Gone are the days when countries can fully respond to the challenges of today's global economy in domestic isolation," said ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder.

He will be meeting G8 Labour Ministers today at an event hosted by the ICFTU's British affiliate the TUC (Trade Union Congress).

"We will be urging Labour Ministers to support us in our calls on international institutions to step up action to enforce workers' rights and for greater international policy coherence," Mr Ryder said.