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19 December, 2005Further trade liberalization's impact on development and on employment has not been taken into account, says IMF delegation.
HONG KONG: The outcome of the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference confirms the concerns expressed by the metalworkers' unions before the meeting: consideration of the impacts on development and on employment of further trade liberalization has not been taken into account, the IMF delegation says in a statement.
The IMF joins the international trade union movement in denouncing the absence of consideration for sustainable development and for the working and living conditions of workers in all countries. None of the crucial issues has been resolved yet, with no clear commitments in areas of key importance for developing countries. Corporate interests on the contrary, in services like in agriculture, see their concerns met, while workers seem not to exist in the liberalization game.
In particular the text on trade liberalisation for industrial products, the so-called NAMA, does not take into account the potential employment repercussions in all countries, with risks of further relocations and jobs losses. The agreement on the use of a Swiss formula with coefficients that still have to be defined, does not allow for cuts on an average basis, which would have been preferable. Furthermore, the inclusion in the main text of recognition of sectoral negotiations will severely affect metalworkers in several countries and sectors of our industry.
Requests from developing countries for flexibilities adequate to allow them to manage the adjustment of sensitive sectors, especially labour intensive ones, and to prevent social disruption caused by job losses and closure of enterprises was ignored. Their appeal "Reclaiming Development in the WTO Doha Development Agenda" was not listened to.
The request of trade unions and social movements for a preliminary assessment of the potential repercussions on development and on employment as a pre-condition for further trade liberalization has been disregarded. The crucial importance of decent jobs as the only way out of poverty for poor countries and for sustainable development in industrialized ones has been completely ignored. The word "employment" is absent from the Hong Kong text.
The common fight for quality employment, for decent jobs with respect of fundamental workers' rights must be the key of unity and solidarity between workers of all countries, in the North and the South. This is the unifying goal around which trade unions and democratic organisations must continue building a strong alliance.
The International Metalworkers' Federation will accompany developments at the WTO in the coming crucial months, together with sister trade union organisations. It calls its affiliates to mobilise workers at regional and national level and to closely collaborate with social movements in the widest possible alliance for employment and sustainable development.
The IMF joins the international trade union movement in denouncing the absence of consideration for sustainable development and for the working and living conditions of workers in all countries. None of the crucial issues has been resolved yet, with no clear commitments in areas of key importance for developing countries. Corporate interests on the contrary, in services like in agriculture, see their concerns met, while workers seem not to exist in the liberalization game.
In particular the text on trade liberalisation for industrial products, the so-called NAMA, does not take into account the potential employment repercussions in all countries, with risks of further relocations and jobs losses. The agreement on the use of a Swiss formula with coefficients that still have to be defined, does not allow for cuts on an average basis, which would have been preferable. Furthermore, the inclusion in the main text of recognition of sectoral negotiations will severely affect metalworkers in several countries and sectors of our industry.
Requests from developing countries for flexibilities adequate to allow them to manage the adjustment of sensitive sectors, especially labour intensive ones, and to prevent social disruption caused by job losses and closure of enterprises was ignored. Their appeal "Reclaiming Development in the WTO Doha Development Agenda" was not listened to.
The request of trade unions and social movements for a preliminary assessment of the potential repercussions on development and on employment as a pre-condition for further trade liberalization has been disregarded. The crucial importance of decent jobs as the only way out of poverty for poor countries and for sustainable development in industrialized ones has been completely ignored. The word "employment" is absent from the Hong Kong text.
The common fight for quality employment, for decent jobs with respect of fundamental workers' rights must be the key of unity and solidarity between workers of all countries, in the North and the South. This is the unifying goal around which trade unions and democratic organisations must continue building a strong alliance.
The International Metalworkers' Federation will accompany developments at the WTO in the coming crucial months, together with sister trade union organisations. It calls its affiliates to mobilise workers at regional and national level and to closely collaborate with social movements in the widest possible alliance for employment and sustainable development.