Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant is to lead a high level delegation for France to attend a two-day G20 Labour and Employment ministers meeting which will consider achievements made and develop new paths for employment creation.
The minister leaves at the weekend to attend the meeting on the 26 and 27 in Paris. The gathering will provide a platform for the Labour and Employment ministers to showcase what they have done and share information about what has worked and has not, and why?
In the previous meeting last year the ministers passed a number of recommendations which include: strengthening social protection systems and promote inclusive active labour market policies, accelerate job creation to ensure a sustained recovery and future growth, place employment and poverty alleviation at the centre of national and global economic strategies, improve the quality of jobs for the future, and prepare a workforce for future challenges and opportunities.
In follow-up meeting officials of the G20 member states, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), International Organisation of Employers, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, International Labour Organisation refined the recommendations during April and May 2011 in Paris.
Next week’s meeting is expected to come up with a final draft.
The draft will focus on matters relating to: strengthening social protection floors adapted to each country;
- Improving employment policies especially for young people and the most vulnerable;
- Promote effective application of social and labour rights;
- And strengthen the coherence of economic and social policies.
Oliphant’s visit to Paris could not have come at the best time. It also comes on the eve of the International Labour Organisation 12th meeting in which the theme of: “Empowering Africa’s Peoples with Decent Work” will be the central focus. The gathering, which will be held at Sandton Convention Centre from October 11-14, is to discuss progress made by the countries in the African Region towards achieving the targets set by the Decent Work Agenda in Africa.
The G20 is a grouping of major advanced and emerging economies established to help stabilize the global financial market. Established in 1999, in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial “flu”, the G20 has held annual finance ministers and Central Bank Governors' meetings and discussed measures to promote the financial stability of the world and to achieve a sustainable economic growth and development. France currently holds the presidency of the G20.
Member countries include Argentina, Australia, Brasil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, USA and the EU.
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