Agence France Presse
DURBAN, South Africa, April 3 (AFP) - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday told trade unions meeting here that an increase in their strength would give "a human face" to globalisation.
In a video message to the 17th congress of the International Confederation of Trade Unions, Annan said: "The building of trade union strength, flexible cooperation and global solidarity will bring balance to globalisation."
The need to set up basic labour standards, giving the world labour market a human face, was one of the greatest challenges of the times, he added.
"Workers should have a say in this process.
"Their voices must not go unheard, their need must not go unmet, their demands must not go unanswered," Annan told the 1,200 delegates at the conference.
Annan called on businesses around the world to adhere to UN guidelines calling for the respect of workers' rights.:
