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22 October, 2000Although global wealth is sharply increasing, the number of people living in acute poverty is also going up.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Starting today, October 23, through Wednesday, October 25, high-level, intensive talks are being held in Washington, D.C. between trade unions and the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on "Poverty Reduction, Core Labour Standards & International Financial Reform."
Some 65 trade union leaders from 30 countries, representing national trade union centres, the ICFTU, the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, chair of the ILO Governing Body Workers' Group and international trade secretariats, including the International Metalworkers' Federation, will meet with the WB's president, James Wolfensohn, the IMF's Managing Director, Horst Köhler, and a number of other senior officials of the WB/IMF.
A main concern for the trade unions is the failure of WB and IMF policies to prevent increasing inequality, financial crises and declining standards of living for workers in many countries. Although global wealth has increased sharply in the last decade, the number of people living in extreme poverty has also grown.
Priority issues for discussion include:
- poverty reduction and debt relief,
- action against HIV/AIDS,
- IMF/WB policies on privatisation,
- core labour standards in WB operations,
- social protection and development,
- international financial reform,
- consultation of trade unions by WB/IMF.
Some 65 trade union leaders from 30 countries, representing national trade union centres, the ICFTU, the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, chair of the ILO Governing Body Workers' Group and international trade secretariats, including the International Metalworkers' Federation, will meet with the WB's president, James Wolfensohn, the IMF's Managing Director, Horst Köhler, and a number of other senior officials of the WB/IMF.
A main concern for the trade unions is the failure of WB and IMF policies to prevent increasing inequality, financial crises and declining standards of living for workers in many countries. Although global wealth has increased sharply in the last decade, the number of people living in extreme poverty has also grown.
Priority issues for discussion include:
- poverty reduction and debt relief,
- action against HIV/AIDS,
- IMF/WB policies on privatisation,
- core labour standards in WB operations,
- social protection and development,
- international financial reform,
- consultation of trade unions by WB/IMF.