G20 labor and employment ministers present
recommendations to President Obama

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis and her fellow G20 labor and employment ministers today met with President Obama and presented him with their recommendations to meet the challenges that the economic crisis is posing for workers and their families worldwide.

A two-day meeting hosted by Secretary Solis, representing the first time that the ministers responsible for labor markets in the 20 largest economies in the world convened to help their nations' leaders coordinate labor market policy, concluded today.

"The G20 leaders asked us — their labor and employment ministers — to help them find ways to meet the challenges that the economic crisis is posing for working households in all of our countries," said Secretary Solis. "They 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."

The ministers reviewed the massive programs launched in the last year to respond to the crisis and discussed additional measures to ensure a sustained recovery that produces enough jobs for workers. The labor and employment ministers also discussed a 21st century job skills training strategy.

During the coming weeks, each G20 labor and employment minister will present the recommendations to his or her government.

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, utilizing lessons learned from recent policy innovations.

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

• Where needed, strengthen social protection systems and active labor 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 center of national and global economic strategies.

• G20 leaders should prioritize 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 labor 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.

Secretary Solis added, "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."