Germany.info : Information Services: Publications: The Week in Germany

Germany.info Home: Information Services: Publications: The Week in Germany

The Week in Germany: Current Affairs

May 11, 2007

Germany Wants G8 to Pay More Attention to the Social Dimension of Globalization

Chancellor Merkel with G8 Union leaders. Photo: RegierungOnline

In talks with leading trade unionists from all G8 nations, German Chancellor Angela Merkel underlined the importance of the social dimensions of globalization.

For trade unions, worldwide compliance with core labour standards and the corporate social responsibility of businesses with multinational operations are extremely important.

Michael Sommer, Chairman of the Confederation of German Trade Unions, called on the Group of Eight (G8) nations to preserve and expand the equitable redistribution of wealth and employment. He pointed out that there are today 1.4 billion unemployed and underemployed individuals in the world.

John J. Sweeney

The President of the AFL-CIO, America's Union Movement, John J. Sweeney, declared that workers around the globe should benefit more from the positive impacts of globalization.

At the same time, German Labor Minister Franz Müntefering called on the G8 nations to pay more attention to the social dimension of globalization.

"Economics, ecology and the social aspect need to be in equilibrium and implemented in a coordinated fashion," he said in remarks prepared for delivery at a meeting of G8 labor and employment ministers opening in Dresden on Sunday (May 6) evening.

Given a social veneer, globalization "will bring prosperity to people" and will be accepted, thus allowing it to play a peacemaking role, the German minister said. "We have to ensure that this view is given more prominence in the world, that the social aspect has strong economic power," he told his counterparts from the US, Japan, Canada, France, Italy, Britain and Russia.

Müntefering said social protection in developing and newly emerging economies was one of the most pressing problems relating to the shaping of a social component in globalization. Only 20 percent of the world's population had "good or adequate social protection," he said, pleading for the adoption of minimum standards like those laid down by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Representatives from the European Commission, the ILO, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank also took part in the three-day conference. The focus of the gathering was on strategies for more and better jobs and on improving social protection systems in developing and threshold countries. It was the first time the World Bank attended such a meeting, which also focused on preparations for next month's G8 summit hosted by Germany in the Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm.

Franz Müntefering (center), flanked by a chef and a grinning Vladimir Spidla, the EU's Czech-born social affairs commissioner, at the G8 labor ministers meeting in Dresden. Photo: dpa

Chancellor Merkel's meeting with trade union organisations was meanwhile part of a series of meetings which will bring the Chancellor together with state and civil society actors from the G8 nations.

Within the framework of the G8 presidency this year, the German government is preparing the topics to be discussed at the G8 summit scheduled for early June. Two special focuses will be international climate protection and sustainable development in Africa.

The exchange of views will be incorporated in the discussions at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, the Chancellor assured the trade unionists.

Two weeks ago, Merkel met leading industrialists at the G8 business summit. A meeting with top-level representatives of non-governmental organisations is scheduled for 14 May. (German government statement/dpa)

Links:

German G8 Presidency (Germany.info)

German Government (Bundesregierung Online)

Back to the Front Page

Current Headlines

Introducing
The German Information Center