Commission to Emphasise Key Role of Human Capital in Response to Globalisation
Date: 17-12-2003 - Brussels
One of the best ways to ensure positive effects of globalisation is to improve employability and focus on human capital. That was the message given to a meeting of Labour and Employment Ministers of G8 countries, who met in Stuttgart 14 to 16 December.
"Change and restructuring has become a constant feature of economic life, affecting all sectors, not just traditional ones. Higher employment and productivity, greater competitiveness, better wages and working conditions directly depend on the ability of enterprises and workers to adapt to change" says Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs.
Ms Diamantopoulou, who represented the Commission at the meeting, emphasised that globalisation requires structural change in labour, product and service markets to maintain economic and employment growth.
Themes for the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Labour Organisation, included 'globalisation and structural change', 'improving labour market efficiency' and 'closer international cooperation in the field of employment policies'. Germany's Minister of Economic Affairs and Labour, Wolfgang Clement, chaired the sessions.
The G8 is an informal group of eight countries which discusses major international economic and political issues. Its members are France, USA, UK, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada, who take turns chairing for one year, in that order. The Commission is an integral part of G8 deliberations, but never holds the chairmanship. G8 Employment ministers usually meet once a year.
Source: Commission Press Room
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/searchAction.do