[May 11, 2008]

2ND LD: Workers in G-8 nations want reduced gaps, achieved stability+

(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) NIIGATA, Japan, May 11_(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH OUTCOME OF SUNDAY'S TALKS)

Labor ministerial-level officials from the Group of Eight countries gathered in the city of Niigata on Sunday for a three-day meeting in which representatives of labor and employers' groups urged the governments to act swiftly and properly to improve unstable labor markets and tackle growing inequalities.

In the tripartite talks, John Sweeney, president of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, called on the G-8 officials to "ensure coordinating government actions to reduce rising risks of unemployment and support decent work" and "effective action to reduce regional inequalities."

In the opening speech, Japanese Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe said, "Our society is becoming more and more complex against the background of globalization and increasing longevity, and a resilient and sustainable society cannot be realized without devotions from workers and employers."

Masuzoe turned out to be the only Cabinet minister attending the meeting, which is being held prior to the G-8 summit in July in Hokkaido.

The other seven nations -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States -- are represented by vice ministers or other senior officials "because of conditions back in their countries," according to a Japanese labor ministry official.

From the employers' side, Peter Clever of the Confederation of German Employers' Association, emphasized the importance of promoting vocational training system for sustainable employment.

Loes van Embden Andres of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Business and Industry Advisory Committee said, meanwhile, "More people should work and should work longer" in an aging society while calling for a flexible work style as well as flexible social protection system for irregular workers.

According to statistics compiled by the OECD, over a quarter of the total employment in Japan in 2005 consisted of part-time positions, of which about 68 percent were women. A similar trend has been shared by other G-8 nations as well, particularly Britain and Germany.

In their statement handed to the ministers' side, participating labor unions from the G-8 nations also pushed for the introduction of "Green Jobs," an International Labor Organization-led initiative of promoting environmentally friendly industries that take into consideration global warming effects.

The failure to act properly "would entail catastrophic consequences for human society, the global economy, and prospects for sustainable jobs," the statement said, acknowledging that the policies should include energy saving, development of a carbon separation technology, as well as fair transfer to other industries of workers affected by climate change.

"The word 'green job' hasn't taken root in the international community, but it's important to have the standard of the value in deciding labor policies," Masahiro Nogi, assistant director of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation's international division, said in briefing reporters.

The International Trade Union Confederation has also noted that climate change may result in a 5 percent loss of annual production across the globe and that the trend may continue permanently if the issue is left unattended.

Full-scale ministerial talks will start Monday, at which participants are set to discuss measures to enable a healthy work-life balance amid increased life spans within the G-8 economies and to rectify disparities stemming from globalization.

Masuzoe is serving as chairman for the meeting, while Yoko Kamikawa, Japanese state minister in charge of declining birthrates and gender equality issues, is attending part of the scheduled discussions.

The meeting will end Tuesday with a chairman's statement set to be issued, in which the participants are expected to agree to ensure harmony between labor and environmental policies, according to a draft obtained by Kyodo News.

They are also seen agreeing on the importance of accelerating job creation through the use of local resources and of promoting participation of local governments and nonprofit organizations, the draft says.

In addition to the G-8 nations, the European commissioner in charge of employment, the heads of the ILO and the OECD are also taking part in the meeting.

Thailand and Indonesia have been invited to attend an outreach dialogue.

Copyright ? 2008 Kyodo News International, Inc.

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