"Can the IFIs Support Sustainable Growth, Reduce Inequality and Protect Labor Rights at the Same Time?"

At the global level, it remains difficult to evaluate what effect the policies of the multilateral system have on the international dimension of inequality. This panel – organized by FES New York, ITUC and New Rules for Global Finance – presents cutting-edge research on the global financial rule-making institutions and explores the nexus between labor policy and human rights, sustainable development and reducing inequality. The meeting started with a 2017 Financial Impact Report, “Are the Multilateral Institutions Fighting Inequality?”, which looks at the impact made by the global financial rule-makers (United Nations, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Bank Group, Financial Stability Board and Group of 20).

The analysis finds the roots of constructive policy research and trends in the work of both WBG and IMF as well as potential for positive synergy between human rights, labor rights, reducing inequality and promoting sustainable growth under the umbrella of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 10. The purpose of the presentations and discussions was to illuminate how the IFIs can achieve their own goals/mandates through labor policies that are consistent with human rights.