EU welcomes first joint WTO-ILO study on trade and employment

The European Commission today welcomed the first ever joint study by the International Labour Organisation and World Trade Organisation on the relationship between trade and employment.

"A better understanding of the relationship between trade and employment is crucial for effectively tackling inequalities and promoting more and better jobs - both in developed and developing countries," said Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. "The European Union and the ILO are working with developing countries to promote decent work for all and to strengthen the social dimension of globalisation."

Peter Mandelson, the Commissioner for External Trade added: "I welcome this joint study - the EU has been encouraging closer collaboration of the WTO and ILO for some time. This supports the EU's recent initiatives with the ILO and developing countries to strengthen trade and employment policies and maximise the social benefits that trade has to offer." Global trade is fast becoming one of the most important drivers of economic growth and job creation across the world. However, we need to manage globalisation so that the benefits are shared fairly. That means ensuring that trade creates decent work for all, with trade and employment policy working hand in hand. As the new study shows, trade and employment policy coherence is essential to help workers and labour markets adjust to changing patterns of global trade. We need to deepen our understanding of how trade agreements affect labour markets and the quality of jobs, especially in poorer countries. This requires reliable information and indicators to help poorer countries plan the right social and employment policies to maximise the benefits of trade opening and support the most vulnerable into decent jobs.

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• "Promoting full employment and decent work for all" - Speech by EU Commissioner Spidla  (6/2/2008)
• L'UE prend des mesures pour promouvoir la «mondialisation équitable» au forum de l'OIT (31/10/2007)
• "EU-India trade and Doha Round of WTO" - Speech by EU Commissioner Fischer Boel  (6/3/2007)
• WTO acknowledges crucial EU role in the multilateral trading system (26/2/2007)