Honourable Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Bab’u Ntuli
Her Excellency Minister Meth, Deputy Ministers & Diplomatic Corp
Members of Troika, Social partners – L20 and B20
esteemed delegates, our international guests – especially those experiencing the vibrant tapestry of South Africa for the first time.
It is with humility that I stand before you, entrusted to amplify the voice of the global labour movement – a force that remains, the most expansive and democratic social current on the planet. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) represents over 200 million workers across 169 countries.
While we are here to represent the interests of workers globally and ensure their voices resonate in the G20’s deliberations, this Employment Working Group, convened on African soil, offers a unique opportunity. We are compelled to shine a spotlight on the urgent challenges faced by workers across the continent and the Global South.
Tony Atkinson, in his book “Inequality”, reminds us that, inequality is not inevitable but rather, it is a policy choice. He wrote: “The distribution of wealth is not a fixed outcome, but a reflection of our values and policies.” That gives us hope that the decisions we take here can and must reduce inequality.
Program director, inequality is multifaceted. It manifests in economic disparities, where a few control most resources, and in the deep social inequalities that disadvantage people, based on race, gender, and age.
Unequal access to healthcare, to education, and to opportunity, perpetuates these injustices, limiting social mobility and trapping generations in poverty.
The world of work holds real potential to tackle these root causes if the right policies are put in place, and so, we must dismantle the structural drivers of inequality, which are, patriarchy, discrimination, unemployment, poverty wages, weak social protection, and the repression of trade unions.
First, we must condemn the many countries that still fail to recognise fundamental labour rights. The ITUC Global Rights Index 2025, launching this month, documents alarming levels of workers’ rights violations. This is unacceptable.
We are sending a clear message:
- workers’ rights must be respected.
- Trade unions must be free to organise,
- to defend members,
- to bargain collectively, and
- to strike without fear.
What we cannot and should not do Program director, is to sit in polite conversation at the G20 and IGNORE the onslaught workers are facing. We must confront it head-on.
In order for us to address inequality in the workplace and improve labour’s share of income, we must reduce wage gaps and disparities in workforce participation, especially between men and women. This demands, strong labour market institutions, equal pay for work of equal value, non-discrimination, and expanded social protection.
We need public services that are accessible and universal. Minimum wages and collective bargaining are not optional, they are essential.
Program director, pay transparency is also critical not just between men and women, but between executives and frontline workers. We must push for objective job appraisals and care policies that support a fair distribution of caregiving responsibilities.
Upskilling and reskilling, especially for women in STEM and leadership, must be part of our toolbox to address horizontal and vertical segregation. But, of course, wages alone are not enough.
We must grow quality employment, adjust minimum wages regularly in order to keep pace with inflation, and we must strengthen collective bargaining institutions. A ‘living wage’ must be a basic guarantee, not a privilege. A core challenge in emerging G20 economies, is the high level of informality and transitioning workers from informal to formal employment, is essential to reducing inequality, and this requires extending legal protections, formalising enterprises, and enforcing compliance. Formalisation brings improved wages, safer conditions, and access to social protection for millions.
Beyond the labour market, fiscal policy must also be a tool for justice. Progressive taxation and well-designed social transfers are essential to redistribute wealth, and shield households from shocks. These mechanisms must be enhanced across the G20, particularly where inequality remains extreme. Social protection is especially crucial for women and vulnerable groups who, often face career interruptions due to caregiving roles.
Program director, as we respond to the climate crisis, we cannot ignore the intersection between inequality and environmental injustice, and so, a Just Transition must be central to our climate agenda. What we cannot allow, is climate solutions that sacrifice workers and communities. Without proper planning, we risk worsening poverty and inequality and further eroding democratic stability.
The G20 Employment Working Group must prioritise a Just Transition that protects jobs, strengthens the state, invests in public goods, and delivers decent, sustainable livelihoods.
Task Force 1, must ensure that, workers and communities are at the centre of industrialisation and growth strategies, not casualties of them.
Ultimately, reducing inequality demands comprehensive and context-specific policies and these must reflect the realities of each country, and work in combination – ensuring fairer labour markets, defending worker rights, and using redistribution tools effectively.
Our South African experience offers a living example of what is possible through social dialogue. Through Nedlac, we’ve negotiated progressive labour laws, co-created emergency measures during COVID-19, and secured above-inflation wage increases through bargaining councils.
Program Director, Ladies and Gentlemen, comrades,
Social dialogue, when genuine is a powerful driver of shared progress but it must be more than a checkbox…it must be meaningful. Engagement must shape outcomes.
Such discussions are not easy, they are hard, but we must debate, motivate and through our engagements, find each other.
Our policy choices must be conscious and deliberate and only then, can we ensure policy is able to reduce inequality and its brutal impact.
Only then, can we create a better world ensuring that, the perspectives of all stakeholders are considered and, only then can we build a fairer world.
Indeed, the challenges are immense – and failure is not an option.
Thank you very much
