It seems evident that the IMF has learned nothing from its inequality-inducing policies during the 1980s debt crises in Latin America nor from its recession-deepening response to the East Asian crisis of the late 1990s. In both regions, the IMF has become synonymous with making bad situations worse.

Sharan Burrow

Globalization has much potential. It could be the answer to many of the world's seemingly intractable problems. But this requires strong democratic foundations based on a political will to ensure equity and justice.

Sharan Burrow

Out of the fires of desperation burn hope and solidarity.

Sharan Burrow

We need economic growth, yes, but growth can be jobless, so a sustainable development framework for employment must include a job creation strategy.

Sharan Burrow

We all need to work together, because there are no jobs on a dead planet; there is no equity without rights to decent work and social protection, no social justice without a shift in governance and ambition, and, ultimately, no peace for the peoples of the world without the guarantees of sustainability.

Sharan Burrow

Globalization can be shaped to ensure that people matter.

Sharan Burrow

Large swathes of people losing faith in democracy is a dangerous thing. Conflict, desperation, totalitarianism are the products of that loss of faith.

Sharan Burrow

A new business model based on old principles of social justice where people matter - now that's a revolutionary way to reduce inequality.

Sharan Burrow

Investment in jobs at a time when millions are unemployed can only be a good thing: all the better if the jobs help us shift from a high-carbon to a low-carbon economy.

Sharan Burrow

There is no doubt that the participation of women in the workforce is a serious productivity boost, but to enable this ambition, there must be investment in care - child care, aged care, disability care, health, and education - which are essential social support structures to enable women to work.

Sharan Burrow

Technology can be used to make people's lives easier, to reduce inequality, to facilitate inclusion, or to solve intractable global problems, but without dialogue and governance, it can be used against humanity - the choice on how we use technology is ours.

Sharan Burrow

Care work contributes enormously to the well-being of our societies and to the sustainability of our economies.

Sharan Burrow

Governments that fail to provide jobs to those who are willing and able to work begin to lose their legitimacy and will face the anger of the electorate.

Sharan Burrow

If multilateral institutions cannot bring about peace and the rule of law because of the vested interests of their members, then both national democracy and global governance will continue to be rocked by crises.

Sharan Burrow

It seems evident that the IMF has learned nothing from its inequality-inducing policies during the 1980s debt crises in Latin America nor from its recession-deepening response to the East Asian crisis of the late 1990s. In both regions, the IMF has become synonymous with making bad situations worse.

Sharan Burrow

It's never been clearer that unrestrained market forces do not produce the kind of societies we aspire to - economically stable and socially inclusive, where citizens have access to secure jobs with the dignity of a fair wage and a welfare safety net.

Sharan Burrow

With global rules for global supply chains, we can end corporate greed.

Sharan Burrow

Trade unions have stood at the front lines of struggles for democratic change and social justice throughout history. In many countries, we are the organized voice of oppositions to governments operating at the behest of corporate power and vested interests.

Sharan Burrow

Anyone who has lived in an area with high unemployment knows how it erodes social bonds, lowers the resilience of the unemployed and their families, and damages the prospects of the next generation.

Sharan Burrow

Inequality is a poison that is destroying livelihoods, stripping families of dignity, and splitting communities.

Sharan Burrow

Many women drop out of the work force altogether, which holds back our economy with a loss of skills and personnel.

Sharan Burrow