Decent work
Topic: Employment, Unemployment and Informalisation · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Decent work is an idea from the ILO (International Labour Organization). It means productive work that gives a fair income, security, social protection, rights at work and a voice through social dialogue, in conditions of freedom and dignity. It has four pillars: employment, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue. It is part of SDG 8. It reminds us that the quality of jobs matters, not just their number.
Example
Before the mills closed, Ahmedabad's textile-mill workers had secure jobs, a living wage, health and old-age cover and a strong union. That was close to decent work. After the closures, many ended up in informal work with none of these, even though they were still "working".
Don't confuse with
- Formal employment: formal employment only needs a written contract and social security. Decent work is broader. It also includes fair income, rights at work, dialogue and dignity.
Related concepts
- Casualisation of workforce
- Informalisation
- Informalisation of the organised sector
- Contract labour
- Social discrimination in the labour market
- Informal employment
- Formal employment
- Formalisation of the economy