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TUC urges Government to support trade union position on the EU post-2015 development agenda set out in the EU Communication – Decent Life for All

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The TUC has written to the Secretary of State for International Development, urging the Government to support the trade union position on Decent Life for All - EU Communication on the post-2015 Development Agenda. Visit http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/tu_statement_on_ec_mdgs-sdgs_final.pdf for trade union position statement

Rt Hon Justine Greening MP
Secretary of State for International Development
Department for International Development
1 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5HE

Dear Justine

I am enclosing a copy of the response from the international trade union movement to the EU Communication on 'Decent Life for all' and hope that the UK Government will play a key role in mobilising support among our European partners for the policies advocated in it.

The statement endorsed by the TUC welcomes the EU position in broad terms and notes the EU recognition of the need for a unified policy framework concerning poverty eradication and sustainability. We are particularly pleased with the Commission's inclusion of decent work, social protection and social partners' involvement in country ownership and accountability among the priority elements of an overarching framework.

The TUC appreciates the reference to social protection and specifically to social protection floors to grant 'basic living standards' and setting objectives of equal and universal access to social protection. In this regard, we would welcome the UK Government's support for the ILO to be given a continued mandate to pursue the implementation of social protection floors.

We are in favour of the inclusion of specific indicators related to any targets and strongly believe that they are pivotal in reducing inequalities and should focus on fair and progressive taxation systems and redistribution mechanisms. While welcoming the Communication's emphasis on social justice, job creation and the Just Transition towards an energy and resource efficient economy, we should like to emphasize the need for a global framework based on human and labour rights as well as environmental and development standards (Paris, Accra, and Busan principles). Such a framework, in our view, should also incorporate independent mechanisms ensuring accountability and commitment.

I look forward to hearing soon from you on the Government's position on the issues.

Yours sincerely

FRANCES O' GRADY

General Secretary

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