As some of the world’s most powerful leaders prepare to meet in St Petersburg for the G20 Leaders’ Summit (5-6 September), they will be greeted by the sober news that the majority of their citizens feel let down, according to the results of a major new survey.

The ITUC Global Poll 2013, initiated by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), found that public confidence in the handling of the global economic crisis is at low point, most notably when it comes to jobs.

About half (49 per cent) of working families have been directly affected by job losses or reduced working hours in the last two years, with as many as 60 per cent of respondents saying that unemployment had badly handled by their government.

The finance burden of austerity is also beginning to take its toll.

One in eight people can no longer pay for basic living expenses and 59 per cent of respondents felt that their governments were more focused on the interests of big business and financial institutions than the concerns of working people.

Confidence in the unions was a bright spot with 68 per cent of respondents agreeing with the statement that “workplaces that have a union representing workers provide better wages, conditions and health and safety for workers.”

Conducted by global market research company TNS, more than 13,000 people were interviewed in 13 countries – Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, Spain, South Africa, the UK and the USA – representing half of the world’s population.

ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow, who is taking part in the Summit, said that leaders need to take urgent action to restore the faith of their citizens.

“The global economy is no more stable today than it was six years ago [at the beginning of the financial crisis].

“While output has stopped falling in some economies, unemployment continues to rise. A key driver of social and economic progress – hope that the next generation will be better off – has been lost.

“Sixty four per cent of people think future generations will be worse off than their own.

“G20 leaders need to foster youth inclusion in the labour market and increase long-term investment in infrastructure and the green economy to rebuild our economies,” said Burrow.

The trade unions, represented by the Labour 20, will present the findings of the Poll along with their priority recommendations to G20 leaders in a consultation meeting during the Summit.

“A G20 jobs action plan that sets national employment targets and raises sustainable aggregate demand and reduces income inequality must be a centrepiece of the G20 response to rising unemployment and inequality,” said John Evans, General Secretary of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD.

The global unions are also calling for governments to adopt stronger labour laws, a renewed commitment to tackling youth unemployment and creating quality jobs, an end to tax evasion and massive investment in green jobs and new infrastructure.

“G20 leaders have the opportunity in St Petersburg to regain trust in their ability to coordinate policies necessary to drive growth which creates jobs and pulls economies out of the crisis.”