EQUALITY: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT //
G20 PERFORMANCE ON LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT 2008–2024
100
75
50
25
0
Compliance (%)
Conclusions (% words)
Commitments (%)
CONCLUSION To improve performance, G20 leaders at the Johannesburg Summit should make more specific labour commitments, including references to the International Labour Organization, as references to a core related international organisation have resulted in better compliance in other issue areas. Anchoring employment policy in solidarity, equality and sustainability requires clear, actionable commitments with sustained follow through to ensure lasting impact.
agreements, have higher compliance. Among 15 assessed summits, the eight highest compliers (above 76%) often included follow-up mechanisms and coordination with labour ministers. For instance, the 2012 Los Cabos Summit, with 100% compliance, endorsed labour ministerial recommendations and targeted labour market measures. Summits that build on existing labour goals also correlate with stronger compliance. The 2023 New Delhi Summit, with 95% compliance, focused on education and skills training for vulnerable groups, continuing earlier inclusive policies. This suggests that policy continuity and reaffirmation of prior structured commitments can contribute to improved implementation. In contrast, summits featuring broad, aspirational language without structured planning averaged just 56% compliance. This suggests that commitments lacking measurable targets, timelines or links to institutional processes are less likely to be implemented effectively.
// EISHA KHAN Eisha Khan was co-chair of the executive of summit studies for the G20 Research Group for India’s 2023 G20 presidency. She is a master’s candidate at Columbia University, pursuing a master’s degree in international affairs. She began working with the Global Governance Program’s research groups in 2019 as a compliance analyst, lead analyst and compliance director with the G20 and G7 Research Groups. Her research interests include sustainable development and climate policy analysis.
X-TWITTER @g20rg www.g20.utoronto.ca
71 globalgovernanceproject.org
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