View source for Decent work

{{Use British English Oxford spelling|date=April 2016}}

{{Short description|Employment that respects the fundamental rights of the human person}}
{{multiple issues|{{COI|date=January 2011}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2015}}}}
[[File:Cost of Basic but Decent Living.jpg|thumb|Cost of Basic but Decent Living]]
'''Decent work''' is [[employment]] that "respects the [[fundamental rights]] of the human person as well as the [[Labor rights|rights of workers]] in terms of conditions of work safety and remuneration. ...  respect for the physical and mental integrity of the worker in the exercise of their employment."<ref>{{cite web|title=General Comment 18, 2006 United Nations COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS - THE RIGHT TO WORK, General comment No. 18, Adopted on 24 November 2005, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights|url=http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/898586b1dc7b4043c1256a450044f331/493bee38093458c0c12571140029367c/$FILE/G0640313.pdf|publisher=Unhchr.ch|accessdate=2015-09-27}}</ref>

Decent work is applied to both the formal and informal sector. It must address all kind of jobs, people and families. According to the [[International Labour Organization]] (ILO), decent work involves opportunities for work that are productive and deliver a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and [[social integration]], freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and [[equality of opportunity]] and treatment for all women and men.<ref name = decentwork>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/decent-work/lang--en/index.htm|title=Decent work|website=www.ilo.org|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref>

The ILO is developing an agenda for the community of work, represented by its tripartite constituents, to mobilize their considerable resources to create those opportunities and to help [[poverty reduction|reduce and eradicate poverty]].<ref name="ilo">{{cite web|url = http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Workingoutofpoverty/lang--en/index.htm|title = Working out of Poverty|publisher = International Labour Organization|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230183244/http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Workingoutofpoverty/lang--en/index.htm |archivedate=December 30, 2007 }}</ref> The ILO Decent Work Agenda<ref name = decentwork/> is the balanced and integrated programmatic approach to pursue the objectives of full and productive employment and decent work for all at global, regional, national, sectoral and local levels. It has four pillars: standards and rights at work,<ref>[http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Therightsatwork/lang--en/index.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215222343/http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Therightsatwork/lang--en/index.htm|date=December 15, 2007}}</ref> employment creation and enterprise development,<ref>[http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Employmentcreation/lang--en/index.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230183228/http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Employmentcreation/lang--en/index.htm|date=December 30, 2007}}</ref> social protection<ref>[http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Socialprotection/lang--en/index.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230183232/http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Socialprotection/lang--en/index.htm|date=December 30, 2007}}</ref> and social dialogue.<ref>[http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Socialdialogue/lang--en/index.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209163429/http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Mainpillars/Socialdialogue/lang--en/index.htm|date=December 9, 2007}}</ref>

== Elements ==
The elements of decent work are:<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=April 16, 2015 |title=Campaign for Decent Work and Living Wage |url=https://apwld.org/decent-work-and-living-wage-campaign/ |access-date=2020-03-10 |website=Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) |language=en-US}}</ref>

* Job Creation - no one should be barred from their desired work due to lack of employment opportunities
* Rights at Work, including [[minimum wage]] - Workers rights include the right to just and favourable conditions, days off, 8-hour days, non-discrimination and living wages for them and their families, amongst others
* Social Protection - all workers should have safe working conditions, adequate free time and rest, access to benefits like healthcare, pension, and parental leave, among many others
* Social Dialogue - workers should be able to exercise [[workplace democracy]] through their unions and negotiate their workplace conditions as well as national and international labour and development policies

== Sustainable development and decent work targets ==
[[File:Sustainable Development Goal 08DecentWork.svg|thumb|Sustainable Development Goal 8]]
The [[Sustainable Development Goals]] also proclaims decent work for sustainable [[economic growth]].<ref>[[Sustainable Development Goals]], Goal 8</ref> The Goal aims to increase labor productivity, reduce the unemployment rate, and improve access to financial services and benefits. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation are key to this, as are effective measures to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in mind, the goal is to achieve full and productive employment, and decent work, for all women and men by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-8-decent-work-and-economic-growth.html|title=Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth|website=UNDP in the Philippines|language=en|access-date=2019-01-27|archive-date=2019-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127210052/http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-8-decent-work-and-economic-growth.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ILO Decent Work Agenda's areas of concern has been mentioned in other development targets such as in reducing poverty and increasing access to education.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/statements-and-speeches/WCMS_356963/lang--en/index.htm|title=Challenges of implementation of Decent Work in the post-2015 Agenda in Europe and its responsibility in the world|date=2015-03-17|website=www.ilo.org|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref> The [[United Nations|UN]] believes that the ILO Decent Work Agenda plays an active role in achieving sustainable development.<ref name=":0" />

==Challenges in implementation==
Although few disagree with the Decent Work Agenda in principle,{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} actually achieving decent work poses challenges and controversies. In Africa, for example, [[informal employment]] is the norm, while well-paying jobs that offer social-protection benefits are the exception.<ref name="D+C">{{cite news |title=Why the western model doesn't work|url=https://www.dandc.eu/en/article/informal-employment-dominates-africa-well-paying-jobs-social-protection-benefits-are|author=Ndongo Samba Sylla|work=D+C, development and cooperation |date=27 September 2017 |accessdate=5 October 2017}}</ref> This has been attributed to difficulties in obtaining [[formal sector]] jobs due to the creasing pressure of [[globalization]].<ref name="D+C" />  But there do exist debates on whether reducing the size of the informal economy<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/iim-bangalore/indias-informal-sector-the-vilifiedglorified-other-side-of-the-formal/47245/1|title=India's Informal Sector: The Vilified-glorified 'other' Side Of The Formal|website=Forbes India|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref> or organizing its members into trade unions<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Schminke |first1=Tobias Gerhard |last2=Fridell |first2=Gavin |title=Trade Union Transformation and Informal Sector Organising in Uganda: The Prospects and Challenges for Promoting Labour-led Development |journal=Global Labour Movement |date=2021 |volume=12 |issue=2 |doi=10.15173/glj.v12i2.4394 |url=https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/globallabour/article/view/4394 |access-date=24 July 2024|doi-access=free }}</ref> would bring about [[Social Welfare|social welfare]].

In 2006, the ILO highlighted the range and breadth of "decent work deficits", including "unemployment and underemployment, poor quality and unproductive jobs, unsafe work and insecure income, rights that are denied and gender inequality" and drawing these deficits to the attention of states attending a  meeting of the UN's [[United Nations Economic and Social Council|Economic and Social Council]] (ECOSOC).<ref>ILO, [https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/mission-and-objectives/features/WCMS_071242/lang--en/index.htm Tackling the "decent work deficit"], published 6 July 2006, accessed 2 October 2022</ref>

In order to achieve the Decent Work Agenda, national and international entities must commit to the objective of the creation of quality jobs and tackle its challenges.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/views/decent-jobs-for-youths-1555431141|title=Decent jobs for youths|work=The Financial Express|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref> However, an obstacle is that it is difficult to convince the citizens of a country that aiding development and job creation abroad is also beneficial domestically.<ref name=":1" /> To remain competitive in the world economy, governments are tempted to close markets and lower labor standards which is believed to cause depressing wages and working conditions.<ref name=":1" />

Various actors can affect the provision of decent work, although existing conditions and incentives do not always lend themselves to advancing the Decent Work Agenda. To illustrate:

* National governments create decent work through economic and [[Industrial policy|industrial policies]]. However, the forces of globalization – such as downward pressures on wages and reduced macroeconomic policy flexibility – have diminished the ability of national governments to achieve this goal on their own.
*The [[European Union]] committed itself to "contribute" to the decent work agenda in its 2006 ''Communication'', ''Promoting decent work for all: The EU contribution to the implementation of the decent work agenda in the world''.<ref>Commission of the European Communities, [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52006DC0249 Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Promoting decent work for all - The EU contribution to the implementation of the decent work agenda in the world], {SEC(2006) 643}, published by EUR-Lex 24 May 2006, accessed 1 November 2022</ref>

==World Day for Decent Work==
October 7 is the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW).<ref>International Trade Union Confederation, [https://www.ituc-csi.org/world-day-for-decent-work-2022 World Day for Decent Work: Wage Justice], published 7 September 2022, accessed 29 September 2022</ref> During that day trade unions, union federations and other workers' associations develop their actions to promote the idea of decent work. Actions vary from street demonstrations to music events or conferences held in many countries.

==Decent Work, Decent Life Campaign==
Five organizations, [[Solidar]], [[ITUC]], [[ETUC]], [[Social Alert International]] and the [[Global Progressive Forum]], launched the Decent Work, Decent Life campaign at the [[World Social Forum]] in Nairobi in January 2007, and has since then worked in an alliance to promote decent work for decent life as solution to poverty. The idea to run a Campaign on Decent Work was conceived at the World Social Forum, 2005, in Porto Alegre. The Campaign targets young people, trade union activists, NGOs and decision makers in developed and developing countries.

The Campaign’s objectives focus on building awareness of Decent work and on promoting decent work as the only sustainable way out of [[poverty]], [[democracy]] and [[social cohesion]].

===Success===
In November 2007, decision makers from European governments and institutions signed the Call to Action of the Decent Work, Decent Life Campaign<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actu.asn.au/International/NewsandEvents/KeydecisionmakerscommittoCalltoActionforDecentWorkDecentLife.aspx |accessdate=July 18, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> adding up to the recognition of the Decent Work Agenda. "There is also a growing interest on the part of the EU and international civil society in decent work, as illustrated for instance by: the launch of the Decent Work/Decent Life [Campaign]…".<ref>Report on the EU contribution to the promotion of decent work in the world, SEC 2184, Brussels, 2008</ref>

The Campaign’s Call to Action focuses on seven issues, namely; decent work, [[workers’ rights]], [[social protection]], [[fair trade]], [[international financial institutions]], [[development aid]] and [[human migration|migration]].

==Decent Work, Decent Life for Women Campaign==
The Decent Work, Decent Life for Women Campaign was a two years campaign launched on [[International Women’s Day]] 2008 (March 8) by the [[International Trade Union Confederation]] (ITUC) and the [[global union federation]]s (GUF). The campaign aims to advocate decent work for women and gender equality in labour policies and agreements and to seek gender equality in trade union structures, policies and activities. The second objective aims at increasing number of women members in trade unions and women in elected positions.

The Campaign's necessity stems from multiple forms of discrimination in both policy and practice on a daily basis women are facing such as the gender pay gap,<ref>[http://www.wageindicator.org/main/WageIndicatorgazette/newsflash2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703171859/http://www.wageindicator.org/main/WageIndicatorgazette/newsflash2008|date=July 3, 2008}}</ref> the lack of maternity protection and the higher unemployment rates among women.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/gap-1.pdf |title=ITUC Report |date=February 2008 |publisher=Ituc-csi.org\accessdate=2015-09-27}}</ref> Because of the [[gender bias]], women are often paid less and are not given the opportunities to advance in their careers compared to their male counterparts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1057111|title=With science 'held back by a gender gap', Guterres calls for more empowerment for women and girls|date=2020-02-10|website=UN News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}}</ref> In Asia, women are mostly employed in the domestic works which is one of the lowest paid, least valued, and least organised sectors. Women's wage growth rate in Asia, excluding China, from 2006 to 2011 was 0.9%.

At the moment 81 national centers in 56 countries participate with various events in this Campaign.

==See also==
{{Portal|Organized labour}}
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Convention on domestic workers]]
* [[Critique of work]]
* [[Dignity of labour]]
* [[Forced labour]]
* [[Happiness at work]] 
* [[International labour law]]
* [[International Labour Organization]] (ILO)
* [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF)
* [[International Trade Union Confederation]] (ITUC)
* [[Job satisfaction]]
* [[Labor rights]]
* [[Neoliberalism]]
* [[Occupational safety and health]]
* [[Right to work]]
* [[Social clause]]
* [[Trade union]]
* [[Washington Consensus]]
* [[World Bank Group]]
* [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO)
{{div col end}}

{{Organized labor|state=collapsed}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.wddw.org WDDW, World Day for Decent Work]
* [http://www.ilo.org/ International Labour Organization]
* [http://www.ilo.org/fairglobalization/lang--en/index.htm A Fair Globalization, Making it Happen]
* [http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dw/index.html Decent Work: a better world starts here. A web movie available in 25 languages]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131213122752/http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/decent-work-agenda/lang--en/index.htm ILO – Decent work agenda]

[[Category:Economic globalization]]
[[Category:Industrial policy]]
[[Category:International Labour Organization]]
[[Category:Labor rights]]