Thaindian News

By Arun Kumar
Washington, April 22 (IANS) Labour ministers from the world’s 20 leading economies, including India, have drawn up a five-point programme with acceleration to job creation to ensure a sustained recovery and future growth at the top.

The ministers presented their recommendations to President Barack Obama Wednesday after a two-day gathering in Washington as most industrial nations are grappling with high unemployment rates, even as their economies emerge from a two-year recession.

US Secretary of Labour Hilda L. Solis, who hosted the meeting said: “The G20 leaders asked us … to help them build the foundation for strong, sustainable, balanced economies that create good jobs for all those who seek to work. They told us to look at the quality of jobs as well as the quantity of jobs.”

“At the end of the day, recovering from the crisis and restoring sustained and balanced growth that creates enough good jobs for our people are goals that we cannot accomplish alone in our own countries. In an integrated global economy, we have to work together.”

The recommendations include:

I. Accelerate job creation to ensure a sustained recovery and future growth.

* As some countries begin to experience economic recovery, continued attention must be paid to job creation and job preservation, including vigorous implementation of existing policies and consideration of additional employment measures.

* In countries with extensive underemployment, informal sectors and/or high rates of poverty, target efforts to generate employment for poor households and vulnerable groups, utilising lessons learned from recent policy innovations.

II. Strengthen social protection systems and promote inclusive active labour market policies.

* Where needed, strengthen social protection systems and active labour market policies because significant numbers of people, including the most disadvantaged, will remain unemployed even after recovery takes hold, and others will need help to adjust to structural changes in our economies.

* In addition, all countries should establish adequate social protection systems so that households have sufficient security to take advantage of economic opportunities.

III. Place employment and poverty alleviation at the centre of national and global economic strategies.

* G20 leaders should prioritise employment and poverty alleviation as they lay the foundation for strong, sustained and balanced growth that is beneficial to all.

IV. Improve the quality of jobs for our people.

* Renew attention to labour market policies and institutions to improve the quality of jobs and respect for fundamental rights at work, as well as the importance of social dialogue.

V. Prepare our workforces for future challenges and opportunities.

* Education, lifelong learning, job training and skills development strategies should be prioritized and linked to growth strategies.

* Better anticipate and match skills to jobs that can help the workforce benefit from post-crisis restructuring and new opportunities.