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20 June, 2000Stephen Byers tells IMF Central Committee that unions have an important role to play to get a revised world trade system.
BIRMINGHAM: Stephen Byers, Great Britain's secretary of state for trade and industry, was a guest speaker today, June 21, at the International Metalworkers' Federation Central Committee meeting. Byers underlined the important role of the unions to get a revised world trade system, with core labour standards at its heart. The present Labour government had reversed the anti-labour policies of its predecessor. Byers declared that "those days are behind us. We have a new agenda, with the unions being part of the solution, not part of the problem."
An example of this was that through government legislation two and a half million working people in Great Britain now have the right to paid holidays. Next month, in July 2000, similar new rights for part-time workers will become a reality, and last month saw new laws on union recognition. "International labour standards should be underpinning international trade," stated Byers. "I want to see agreed minimum standards in new trade arrangements." He wanted the World Trade Organisation to accept change and said the WTO should not force labour standards on governments but that there had to be dialogue, leading to labour standards.
An example of this was that through government legislation two and a half million working people in Great Britain now have the right to paid holidays. Next month, in July 2000, similar new rights for part-time workers will become a reality, and last month saw new laws on union recognition. "International labour standards should be underpinning international trade," stated Byers. "I want to see agreed minimum standards in new trade arrangements." He wanted the World Trade Organisation to accept change and said the WTO should not force labour standards on governments but that there had to be dialogue, leading to labour standards.