The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has called on governments to do more to improve the cybersecurity of critical services and connected devices, following a major new study which claims globalization is failing people.

Speaking to Infosecurity Magazine ahead of the Labour20 Dialogue Forum of international trade unionists this week, ITUC general secretary, Sharan Burrow, argued that the WannaCry worm has exposed the failure of governments to enforce strict cybersecurity standards and provide adequate investment in critical industries.

“It has also highlighted the general problem that the first line of cybersecurity, people, are not well enough trained nor aware of risks,” she added.

“Many employers use state-of-the art monitoring and surveillance of their workforce and even social engineering to boost productivity, but fail to ensure that employees are sufficiently cyber-literate or indeed that their data privacy rights are respected.”

Burrow also highlighted the global shortage of IT workers as a growing problem, as well as the advent of billions of “poorly protected” connected devices coming online, accelerating cyber-risk further.

“Trade unions want governments to focus on these issues, and we want to work together with employers to bring solutions that protect against cyber-attacks while ensuring employees' and consumers' rights. We need a new social contract for the digital age", she concluded.

The 181-million member ITUC’s latest annual survey solicited responses from over 15,000 individuals, representing 53% of the global population.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) claimed they worry about cyber-attacks on banks, government or other services.

The Labour20 Dialogue Forum will take place in Berlin this week, where international trade unionists will discuss new rules for fair globalization and work in the digital era.

German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, will join on the second day to receive recommendations which she’ll carry forward to the G20 summit in Hamburg in July, where the group’s labor ministers will meet.