Mr. President

1. I have the honour to introduce on behalf of the Group of 77 and China the draft resolution on "Recovering from the World Financial and Economic Crisis: A Global Jobs Pact", under the Coordination Segment of the Social and Economic Council.

2. We would like to thanks the following delegations which have joined so far the list of co-sponsors: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom of great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr. President,

3. The draft resolution takes into consideration that unemployment and underemployment levels remain persistently high in many countries, particularly among the younger generations, and that there is a need to promote sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth that generates employment, leads to poverty eradication, fosters sustainable development and strengthens social cohesion.

4. Moreover, the draft resolution reiterates that the Global Jobs Pact is a general framework within which each country can formulate policy packages specific to its situation and priorities, and encourages Member States to continue to promote and make full use of the Pact and implement policy options contained therein.

5. Besides, it also recognizes the need to universally respect, promote and realize fundamental principles and rights at work, in accordance with the International Labor Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

6. In addition, it recognizes the need to promote and realize at least basic social protection in order to achieve decent work and nationally designed social protection floors in all countries in line with national priorities and circumstances

7. Finally, among other things, the draft requests the Secretary-General, in coordination with the International Labor Organization, to assess and review job intensive investment and strategies and report to the Council at its 2012 substantive session, with a view to supporting job creation and promoting sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth.

8. It also requests the Secretary-General, in his report to the Annual Ministerial review of the Economic and Social Council at its substantive session of 2012, to report on the use of the Global Jobs Pact by the UN system and further progress made in implementing the present resolution.

Mr. President,

9. The Group of 77 and China would like to thank all the delegations for their constructive engagement during the informal consultations, and we trust that this resolution will be adopted by consensus.

I thank you Mr. President.