All publications for topic

Report of the ILO-AICESIS Joint International Conference 23–24 November 2023, Athens, Greece

The role of social dialogue and its institutions in combating inequalities in the world of work

The ILO, the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS) and the Economic and Social Council of Greece (OKE) jointly organized a conference on The Role of Social Dialogue and its Institutions in Combating Inequalities in the World of Work, in Athens in November 2023. This report brings together a summary of the conference discussions, the background report which presented the findings of a survey of ESC-SIs on the theme of inequalities in the world of work, and the Athens Declaration adopted at the close of the event.

Iraq National Strategy to prevent and reduce inequalities in the World of Work (2024-2028)

Decent work

Decent Work Country Programme for Nepal 2023-2027

The Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Nepal covering 2023-2027 aims to improve access to decent work and better opportunities for more people in Nepal.

ILO-AICESIS International conference

Athens Declaration on the role of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions in combating inequalities in the world of work

Workers’ representatives in selected Central and Eastern European countries: Filling a gap in labour rights protection or trade union competition?

Statistical brief

Sri Lanka’s Labour Market during the Economic Crisis of 2022-2023

Why the unemployment rate does not tell the full story

Guidelines

Green Employment Diagnostics for Just Transitions

Supporting countries understand and respond to the opportunities and threats posed by climate change, and policy responses to promote just transitions

International Journal of Labour Research

A new social contract for the social media platforms: prioritizing rights and working conditions for content creators and moderators

This paper describes the special challenges faced by content moderators and creators on digital labour platforms, including isolation, high workload, exposure to disturbing content, abuse and harassment and lack of job security. A new social contract should recognize the immense value of workers’ contributions, including those working in other countries for large Western corporations, and ensure fair compensation for their efforts. The paper outlines the potential contributions of governments, trade unions, employers and stakeholders.

International Journal of Labour Research

Why a new social contract is urgent?

This article summarizes key aspects of the new social contract adopted by the ITUC 5th World Congress in Melbourne, Australia, in November 2022. The world needs the new social contract to replace the failing, inequitable and unsustainable economic model of today. At its 5th World Congress (Melbourne, November 2022), the ITUC adopted a policy and action statement that provides for action on three intersecting global challenges: climate change, public health and technology. It further defines six key workers’ demands on which the new social contract is based: jobs, rights, wages, social protection, equality and inclusion.

International Journal of Labour Research

Social protection as a key component of the new social contract: a leading role for trade unions

While social protection is recognized as a basic human right by virtually all governments and international institutions, in reality most of the global population still has no social protection coverage. The ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation, 2012 (No. 202) offers a blueprint for making social protection the centrepiece of a new social contract. This analysis takes a fresh look at Recommendation No. 202 in light of both the newly exposed weaknesses of existing social protection and recent government efforts to build social protection floors, and outlines the potential contribution of workers’ organizations to the UN/ILO Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions and the proposed global social protection fund.

International Journal of Labour Research

A new social contract: achieving social justice in an era of accelerating change in the agricultural sector

Smart farming is predicted to solve global problems of food security by introducing digital technology to save production costs; however, by switching to the full use of technology it is displacing labour, as evidenced by several country studies presented in this paper. A new social contract would remedy the violation of workers’ rights and the lack of support from governments for sustainable smart farming. It should acknowledge the gaps between traditional and modern farming and integrate employment, social protection and sustainable development. The paper outlines the role of governments, trade unions and the ILO in this new social contract.

International Journal of Labour Research

Reflections on the new social contract

This paper describes the pressures imposed on people and the planet by climate change, global conflict and the complex issues of inequality generated by past economic models. On the labour front, technological development and increasing automation have profoundly changed the industrial relations model and generated new opportunities and significant challenges for millions of workers. The paper outlines the response presented by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and international human rights instruments and calls for a new social contract that preserves the fundamental values of modern democracy and an integrated vision of labour that incorporates a rights-based approach and global solidarity.

International Journal of Labour Research

The world of work and the new social contract

The social contract of the 1940s and 1950s followed the principle that citizens contributed to the common good – whether economically, socially or culturally – on the assumption that the state would ensure a minimum standard of living, provision of essential social services and infrastructure and the protection of their basic rights. Now, however, the global socio- economic context is characterized by a persistent and pervasive joblessness, insecure employment and working poverty, growing income inequalities and inadequate social protection coverage. This paper calls for a new social contract which reduces social inequality, promotes living wages and adequate working conditions and occupational safety and health. It calls upon governments to establish universal social protection systems that are resilient, effective, inclusive, adequate and sustainable over the long term.

International Journal of Labour Research

Towards a European socio-ecological contract

The paradigm change in our economic model that is needed to put human activity back within planetary boundaries requires a reparation of entrenched existing inequalities. It is also essential to avoid creating new inequalities on top of the old ones. While the concept of just transitions is promising for delivering on this objective, real-world implementation varies in its scope and scale, and existing policies are not much more than a patchwork. The post-war welfare state fails to address the new challenges. This paper describes the role of the ILO and other multilateral institutions, national governments and trade unions in a socio-ecological contract that works for all, provides affordable and effective social protection and reduces inequality, poverty and social exclusion.

Executive Summary

A new social contract: achieving social justice in an era of accelerating change (Executive Summary)

Report

Part II: Two decades of national employment policies 2000-2020

Towards a new generation of national employment policies (NEPs): What can we learn from the evolution of the scope and content of NEPs?

Governance and Tripartism Department

Access to labour justice: Comparative law and practice on labour disputes prevention and resolution

The report highlights the commonalities and differences across the legal and regulatory, institutional and procedural frameworks governing dispute prevention and resolution mechanisms in the countries under study.

International Journal of Labour Research

A new social contract: achieving social justice in an era of accelerating change

This 2023 edition of the International Journal of Labour Research (IJLR), aims to stimulate reflection on what a new social contract might entail and more specifically the role of workers’ organizations in engaging in the design and establishment of a new social contract within the multilateral system and at national level. Thus, the focus of this issue is both on what such a new social contract may entail and on what to do in terms of its implementation.

Forced labour

The Alignment of Indonesian laws, policies, and their enforcement with the ILO international labour standards on forced labour: A situation and gap analysis

This gap analysis documents the extent to which the requirements of PO29 are represented in the Government of Indonesia’s existing laws, norms and practices, with special reference to Indonesia’s catch fisheries sector and local fishers, who are one of the groups identified to be at risk of forced labour in Indonesia.

Access to social protection for Nepalese migrant workers in countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).