Trade unions from G7 countries have issued a joint Labour 7 (L7) statement calling for social justice to be placed at the centre of international cooperation during a time of profound geopolitical divisions.
Released ahead of Canada’s hosting of the G7 Foreign Affairs Ministerial in Charlevoix, the statement highlights how increasing militarisation and austerity are undermining social investment at a time when workers already face a persistent cost-of-living crisis. The L7 argues that trade wars will only make this situation worse, and that G7 members must pursue economic policies that strengthen collective bargaining, promote wage growth, and support a just transition to net zero economies.
The L7 challenges G7 members to acknowledge their responsibility as major historic carbon emitters following 2024’s record-breaking temperatures. The statement calls for enhanced climate finance and worker protections through just transition measures aligned with the Paris Agreement.
Fundamental labour rights must extend to the digital economy, with the L7 insisting that collective bargaining shape how artificial intelligence transforms workplaces. The statement calls for meaningful implementation of the G7’s 2024 AI Action Plan, ensuring workers maintain their rights as new technologies develop.
To address the widening SDG financing gap, the L7 proposes reform of the international financial architecture and calls for G7 members to honour their commitment to dedicate 0.7% of GNI to development assistance. With 92 countries having spent more on external debt services than on SDG investments in 2024, according to the OECD, the statement positions the 2025 Jubilee as a critical opportunity for debt cancellation initiatives.
Tackling inequality is another core theme, with the L7 proposing specific measures including a global wealth tax on the ultra-rich, a financial transaction tax, and windfall taxes on multinationals.
At a time when workers face multiple crises – from the cost of living to climate change – the G7 has a responsibility to demonstrate political leadership. The L7 statement outlines concrete paths forward, particularly on tackling inequality and ensuring a just transition. We need G7 countries to move beyond words to meaningful action that puts people before profits.
The G7 must move from commitments to action and make significant progress in strengthening collective bargaining, ensuring fair taxation, and putting in place meaningful protections for workers through technological and climate transitions.
Throughout the statement, the L7 emphasises the importance of multilateralism and meaningful engagement with social partners to address these interconnected challenges.
Read the full L7 statement here.
