Lula: Wage increases did not keep up with productivity growth

In a speech during an International Labor Organization (ILO) event in Geneva, Switzerland, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) stated that the fight against inequalities is a priority for Brazil’s presidency of the G20, which will be held in November , in Rio de Janeiro.

Lula highlighted that “you cannot discuss economics and finance without discussing employment and income”, defending a “new globalization” with a human focus. Another point addressed was that, in the Brazilian president’s assessment, the increase in wages did not follow “productivity growth”.

Taxation of the super-rich

Lula highlighted that the country is “promoting the proposal to tax the super-rich in the G20 debate”, citing that “never before has the world had so many billionaires”. According to him, “three thousand people hold almost fifteen trillion dollars”, a fortune that represents “the sum of the GDP of Japan, Germany, India and the United Kingdom”.

Lula criticized the concentration of income, stating that it is “so absurd that some individuals have their own space programs, certainly trying to find a better planet than Earth so as not to be among the workers who are responsible for their wealth”.

The president also mentioned Brazil’s priority initiative at the G20, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which seeks to “accelerate efforts to eliminate these wounds”. Lula made a point of inviting the ILO to contribute to the group’s discussions, addressing topics such as promoting a just transition and the use of emerging technologies to improve the world of work.

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