ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder said: "We are covering every possible base in alerting world leaders to the depth of anger and frustration felt by working people everywhere at the complete failure of unregulated capitalism."

"People are paying for this disastrous failure of governance with their jobs and livelihood, and nothing less than a complete overhaul of the system can meet the urgent needs of this moment."

However, he was deeply worried that G20 governments are not yet ready to show the necessary leadership. "Every moment they delay taking the far-reaching decisions needed means more jobs lost and more people falling into poverty."

Tens of thousands of demonstrators braved cold and wet weather on the streets of London over the weekend in a broad civil society demonstration for jobs, justice and climate emergency. Some 70 national and international union leaders are expected attend the London meetings this week.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2009)