Trade Union Statement to the First Universal Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum

The number of people suffering from a lack of adequate nutrition, housing, water, and livelihood opportunities is daunting. 1.4 billion people are living in extreme poverty on less than US$1.25 a day, and close to 1 billion people suffer from hunger. Worse, this statistic underestimates the numbers that are finding it hard to make ends meet, in both developed and developing worlds, even while they work. 60% of workers are without a secure employment contract and 75% without social protection.