Trade union consortium prepares for 2016 Labor 20 meeting

Organizers preparing for the 2016 meeting of Labor 20, which represents trade unions from the G20 countries, met for the first time on Monday in Beijing.

The L20 meeting aims to promote protection of worker rights as the economy grows, said Li Yufu, vice-chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. "Although China's economic growth is slowing down, it still remains steady," Li said.

Sharon Burrow, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, said the meeting would focus on "the commitment to the G20 framework on developing quality jobs".

The unions also want fair income distribution, regulation of the financial sector and the formalization of work through minimum wages.

The 2016 G20 Summit will be held in Hangzhou in September. The summit is the premier forum for members of the Group of Twenty, and is responsible for international economic cooperation and decision-making.

Labor 20 represents the interests of workers at the G20 level. It unites trade unions from G20 countries and is convened by the trade union confederation and the Trade Union Advisory Committee.