The Labour 20 (L20) group of trade unions has warned that the agenda emerging under the United States’ G20 presidency risks widening inequality and weakening democracy and workers’ rights.

Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), stated that:

“The G20 must stand for a global economy that delivers decent jobs, social justice and shared prosperity. Any attempt to weaken democratic institutions or workers’ protections in favour of billionaires and big corporations will only deepen inequality, instability and undermine democracy.”

Veronica Nilsson, General Secretary of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC), added that workers urgently need governments to address inequality, climate change, and technological disruption, rather than advancing policies based on deregulation, expanded fossil fuel use, and unchecked corporate influence.

The L20 formally launched its 2026 engagement process in early February through an online meeting of global trade union leaders. It later convened a broader event aimed at strengthening efforts to reduce inequality, drawing on findings from the G20 Global Inequality Report.

Under the theme “Reducing inequalities, putting people at the centre of the G20,” the gathering brought together trade union representatives, members of the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality, labour ministers from Brazil and Spain, the South African G20 Sherpa, as well as representatives from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and civil society organizations. Participants emphasized the central importance of labour in addressing inequality and discussed proposals for advancing an International Panel on Inequality.

In its formal submission to G20 governments, the L20—representing workers across the world’s largest economies—called on leaders to defend democracy, uphold international law, and promote inclusive economic growth.

The labour movement cautioned that policy directions associated with the U.S. presidency—particularly those emphasizing deregulation, fossil fuel expansion, and the interests of large technology corporations—could deepen inequality and weaken democratic institutions if left unchecked.

The L20 outlined several key priorities it believes the G20 should adopt:

• A democratic, people-centred global economic agenda capable of addressing major challenges facing workers worldwide
• Rights-based regulation to protect workers, consumers, and communities, while ensuring democratic accountability in markets
• A just transition toward renewable energy that guarantees decent jobs and protects livelihoods while addressing climate change
• People-centred digital transformation, including strong regulation of artificial intelligence and technology to safeguard employment, rights, privacy, and democracy
• Fair wages, strengthened collective bargaining, and universal social protection systems
• Fair taxation, debt relief, and stronger multilateral cooperation to reduce inequality and support sustainable development
• Increased investment in public services and education to ensure inclusive growth and prepare societies for future labour market changes

The L20 also warned that limiting the participation of engagement groups—particularly trade unions—and deprioritizing issues such as employment, health, education, and development would weaken the G20’s ability to respond effectively to global challenges.

Liz Shuler, President of the AFL-CIO, also criticized the direction of policy under the current U.S. administration, stating:

“The Trump administration began its second term by dismantling the key agencies that protected workers’ rights around the globe. Now, as the United States hosts the G20, it has taken almost all labor and employment issues off the agenda. But the labor movement will not abandon our obligation to workers. The L20 will carry on this essential work: upholding the commitments G20 governments have made in previous years and building towards a stronger multilateral system that delivers for all working people.”

The G20 Leaders’ Summit is scheduled to take place in Miami on 14–15 December 2026.