WIREDGOV

TUC Deputy General Secretary Paul Nowak was yesterday (Wednesday) in Beijing joining trade union leaders from the world’s leading industrial nations to call for coordinated action to address the risks of global recession.

The L20 Summit brings together trade union leaders to make recommendations to G20 labour and employment ministers who are also meeting in Beijing this week.

The L20 report, Getting quality job creation back on track, calls on G20 members to halt the slide in the global economy by a coordinated increase in public investment to boost global demand; and increased wages through stronger collective bargaining.

The L20 report was given a boost by yesterday’s statement from the G20 labour and employers ministers, which affirmed the importance of public investment to reducing unemployment. The TUC says it is now up to the G20 finance ministers and heads of state to bring forward a coordinated package of public investment to safeguard global growth and create jobs.

TUC Deputy General Secretary Paul Nowak said: “With the global economy stalling, and Brexit adding to the uncertainty, we need a coordinated response from G20 countries to protect growth. Faster wage growth and higher public investment should be the top priorities.

“Britain must show leadership on a coordinated programme of investment by setting out UK plans for infrastructure spending.

“The TUC has published a plan of action to keep the UK economy moving. The government must give the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow, bring forward major new infrastructure projects like high-speed rail and announce a big expansion in housebuilding.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• The full report of the L20 to the G20, Getting quality job creation back on track, can be found at www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/l20_statement_-_beijing_july_2016_-_en.pdf
• All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
• Follow the TUC on Twitter: @The_TUC and follow the TUC press team @tucnews