Trade unions have raised serious concerns about the future of the G7’s labour and employment agenda following today’s virtual G7 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting (LEMM).
After repeated calls from the Labour 7 (L7) throughout 2025, the Canadian Presidency finally convened the meeting. While trade unions welcome the holding of the LEMM – even if late and online – the L7 was disappointed that the G7 only led to the adoption of a short Communiqué from the presidency, with little content and political commitments from G7 members. .
The L7 actively engaged in the work of the Employment Working Group (EWG) throughout 2025, working with the Canadian Presidency, including by co-organising a dedicated EWG session with the B7 on strengthening workforce resilience. The L7 strongly regrets, however, that this engagement did not translate into more concrete deliverables and greater political commitments. With still no formal announcement of a LEMM under the incoming French Presidency in 2026 yet, and the United States taking over in 2027, trade unions warn the G7’s labour and employment track is now at serious risk.
While the G7 discussed important themes this year, not least the advancement of AI, the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market and ways to ensure workforce resilience, the failure to adopt actionable targets and a strong political declaration comes at precisely the wrong time. Digitalisation, AI, climate change and demographic shifts are transforming the world of work – and the G7 must shape these transitions to deliver decent work and fair wages.
The L7 Communiqué, circulated to Ministers ahead of the meeting, challenges the G7 to adopt concrete, measurable targets – including a “G7 target on Zero In-Work Poverty” centred on minimum living wages and collective bargaining, and a specific collective bargaining target to extend protections to millions of workers currently left without coverage.
The relevance and credibility of the G7 is at stake. With workers' rights eroding and millions living in poverty, the G7 cannot sideline its social dimension in times of such uncertainty. The L7 stands ready to work with Ministers – but we need political commitment, not retreat.
The G7 must move from commitments to action. Workers cannot wait while governments debate – they need concrete measures on living wages, collective bargaining and just transition. We call on G7 members to restore full political engagement and deliver real progress in 2026.
Read the full L7 Communiqué here.
