Commissioner Thyssen represented the EU at the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers` Meeting

Commissioner Thyssen represented the EU at the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers` Meeting

Labour and employment ministers of G20 economies have met in Bad Neuenahr on 18-19 May to draw up recommendations for making labour markets future-proof, productive and fair. The EU was represented by Commissioner Marianne Thyssen.

Social partners (Business20 and Labour20), G20 engagement groups (Women20, Youth20 and Think20) as well as heads and representatives of international organisations (ILO, OECD, IMF and World Bank Group) have also participated at the meeting.

The ministers' declaration entitled "Towards an Inclusive Future: Shaping the World of Work" makes essential pledges to shape the future of work by harnessing opportunities of structural change for new and better jobs and reducing risks through a focus on policies for skills development, effective social protection for all, and job quality.

The declaration contains policy measures with a view to putting women and men on an equal footing in terms of job quality and pay with in order to reach the G20 goal to reduce the gender gap by 25 per cent by 2025.

Ministers also exchanged good practices on promoting fair and effective integration of migrants and refugees in the labour markets, and committed to foster policies that promote decent work and fair wages in global supply chains, including through supporting the Vision Zero Fund.

Commissioner Thyssen said: “This year is an important opportunity for the G20. After years of crisis, the G20 will be judged against whether we make substantial progress towards greater inclusiveness. The European Union is back on track to lead the way. Our strategy – the virtuous triangle of investment, structural reform and responsible public finances – is working. It shows that reforms bring results.”

In her interventions, the Commissioner has outlined and presented

• EU progress in getting economy and labour market recovery back on track,.
• key features of the European Pillar of Social Rights,.
• EU response to the refugee crisis with focus on the integration and inclusion aspects of the Commission`s comprehensive approach.

Background

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Commissioner has met bilaterally with her counterparts from the USA, Argentina, Canada, Australia and Germany to discuss issues of common interest and future cooperation.

The ministers` declaration will be brought to the attention of the G20 Leaders who will hold their Summit on 7–8 July 2017 in the city of Hamburg under the title "Shaping an interconnected world". The Summit outcome communiqué is expected to endorse the main points of the G20 labour and employment ministers' declaration.