Trade : MC12 draft "outcome" document mired in divergences at WTO (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Ongoing discussions on the draft "outcome" document for the World Trade Organization's 12th ministerial conference (MC12) seem to be mired in divergences, particularly on the issues of "WTO reforms" and "environment" among others, with developing and least-developed countries seeking a clear roadmap based on the Marrakesh Agreement, said people familiar with the development.

WTO : TRIPS Council "outcome text" contradicts bracketed working document (PRIV)
(TWN, Geneva)
In an unusual development, a restricted TRIPS Council document (JOB/IP/58) "Outcome Text - Revision" dated 23 May has been issued that reflects some of the tentatively agreed changes to the text issued by the WTO Director-General in document IP/C/W/688 on TRIPS Covid-19 (DG's text).

UN : Labour market recovery suffers significant setback, says ILO (PRIV)
(Kanaga Raja, Geneva)
The number of hours worked globally deteriorated in the first quarter of 2022, to 3.8 per cent below the pre-crisis benchmark of the fourth quarter of 2019, equivalent to a deficit of 112 million full-time jobs, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).