The Decent Work Agenda and Achieving the Millennium
Development Goals
The Decent Work Agenda and Achieving the Millennium
Development Goals
Development Education Conference 2006Linking the Global and the Local
Dublin City University, Friday March 24th
Background Research: Matthew L. Hart (ICFTU United Nations Office, New York)
Contributions: James Howard and Claire Courteille (ICFTU Headquarters, Brussels)
By : Gemma Adaba
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
The Millennium DeclarationThe Millennium Declaration Adopted by Heads of State at
the UN General Assembly in September 2000
Codified into eight millennium development goals (MDGs) and eighteen time-bound targets.
Goals to be achieved by 2015
Interim review during the 2005 World Summit of the UN 14-16 September, 2005
Adopted by Heads of State at the UN General Assembly in September 2000
Codified into eight millennium development goals (MDGs) and eighteen time-bound targets.
Goals to be achieved by 2015
Interim review during the 2005 World Summit of the UN 14-16 September, 2005
Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Target 1: Reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day
Target 2: Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education Target 3: Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course
of primary schooling
Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women Target 4: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary
education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015
Goal 4. Reduce child mortality Target 5: Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among
children under five
Goal 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Target 1: Reduce by half the proportion of people living on
less than a dollar a day Target 2: Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer
from hunger
Goal 2. Achieve universal primary education Target 3: Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course
of primary schooling
Goal 3. Promote gender equality and empower women Target 4: Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary
education preferably by 2005, and at all levels by 2015
Goal 4. Reduce child mortality Target 5: Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among
children under five
Goal 5. Improve maternal health Target 6: Reduce by three quarters the maternal
mortality ratio
Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Target 7: Halt and begin to reverse the spread of
HIV/AIDS Target 8: Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of
malaria and other major diseases
Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability Target 9: Integrate the principles of sustainable
development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources
Target 10: Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water
Target 11: Achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by 2020
Goal 5. Improve maternal health Target 6: Reduce by three quarters the maternal
mortality ratio
Goal 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Target 7: Halt and begin to reverse the spread of
HIV/AIDS Target 8: Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of
malaria and other major diseases
Goal 7. Ensure environmental sustainability Target 9: Integrate the principles of sustainable
development into country policies and programmes; reverse loss of environmental resources
Target 10: Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water
Target 11: Achieve significant improvement in lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers, by 2020
Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development
Target 12: Develop a non-discriminatory trading and financial system Target 13: Address the special needs of the least developed countries Target 14: Address the special needs of landlocked countries and
small island developing States Target 15: Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of
developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term.
Target 16: In cooperation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth.
Target 17: In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries
Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications
Goal 8. Develop a global partnership for development Target 12: Develop a non-discriminatory trading and financial system Target 13: Address the special needs of the least developed countries Target 14: Address the special needs of landlocked countries and
small island developing States Target 15: Deal comprehensively with the debt problems of
developing countries through national and international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term.
Target 16: In cooperation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth.
Target 17: In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries
Target 18: In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications
Uneven Progress Towards Achieving the MDGs
Uneven Progress Towards Achieving the MDGs
“Despite progress in many areas, overall the world is falling short of what is needed, especially in the poorest countries. As the Millennium Project’s report makes clear, our agenda is still achievable globally - but only if we break with business as usual and dramatically accelerate scale up action until 2015, beginning over the next 12 months”
Kofi Annan
“In Larger Freedom” NY, 2005
“Despite progress in many areas, overall the world is falling short of what is needed, especially in the poorest countries. As the Millennium Project’s report makes clear, our agenda is still achievable globally - but only if we break with business as usual and dramatically accelerate scale up action until 2015, beginning over the next 12 months”
Kofi Annan
“In Larger Freedom” NY, 2005
The UN Millennium Project The UN Millennium Project
“Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to
Achieve the Millennium Development Goals”
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/index.htm
“Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to
Achieve the Millennium Development Goals”
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/index.htm
Led by Jeffrey D. Sachs
The Millennium ProjectThe Millennium ProjectTen Key Recommendations:
1. Developing country governments should adopt development strategies bold enough to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets for 2015. Where Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) already exist, those should be aligned with the MDGs.
2. The MDG-based poverty reduction strategies should anchor the scaling up of public investments, capacity building, domestic resource mobilization, and official development assistance.
3. Developing country governments should craft and implement the MDG-based poverty reduction strategies in transparent and inclusive processes, working closely with civil society organizations, the domestic private sector, and international partners.
4. International partners should identify at least a dozen MDG “fast-track” countries for a rapid scale up of official development assistance (ODA) in 2005.
5. Developed and developing countries should jointly launch, in 2005, a group of quick win actions to save and improve millions of lives and to promote economic growth.
6. Developing country governments should align national strategies with such regional initiatives as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the Caribbean Community (and Common Market), and regional groups should receive increased direct donor support for regional projects.
7. High-income countries should increase official development assistance (ODA) from 0.25 percent of donor GNP in 2003 to around 0.44 percent in 2006 and 0.54 percent in 2015 to support the MDGs.
4. International partners should identify at least a dozen MDG “fast-track” countries for a rapid scale up of official development assistance (ODA) in 2005.
5. Developed and developing countries should jointly launch, in 2005, a group of quick win actions to save and improve millions of lives and to promote economic growth.
6. Developing country governments should align national strategies with such regional initiatives as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and the Caribbean Community (and Common Market), and regional groups should receive increased direct donor support for regional projects.
7. High-income countries should increase official development assistance (ODA) from 0.25 percent of donor GNP in 2003 to around 0.44 percent in 2006 and 0.54 percent in 2015 to support the MDGs.
The Millennium ProjectThe Millennium Project
The Millennium ProjectThe Millennium Project8. High income countries should open their
markets to developing country exports through the Doha trade round and help Least Developed Countries raise export competitiveness through investments in critical trade trade-related infrastructure, including electricity, roads, and ports.
9. International donors should mobilize support for global scientific research and development to address special needs of the poor in areas of health, agriculture, natural resource and environmental management, energy, and climate.
10. The UN Secretary-General and the UN Development Group should strengthen the coordination of UN agencies, funds, and programs to support the MDGs, at headquarters and country level
8. High income countries should open their markets to developing country exports through the Doha trade round and help Least Developed Countries raise export competitiveness through investments in critical trade trade-related infrastructure, including electricity, roads, and ports.
9. International donors should mobilize support for global scientific research and development to address special needs of the poor in areas of health, agriculture, natural resource and environmental management, energy, and climate.
10. The UN Secretary-General and the UN Development Group should strengthen the coordination of UN agencies, funds, and programs to support the MDGs, at headquarters and country level
The Centrality of Decent Work to Achieving the
MDGs
The Centrality of Decent Work to Achieving the
MDGs At the national level, developing
country governments need to formulate policies aimed at tackling the root causes of poverty.
A starting point must be the realization of the centrality of decent work to poverty eradication
The “Sachs Report” fails to pay sufficient attention to a critical element: Employment and Decent Work
At the national level, developing country governments need to formulate policies aimed at tackling the root causes of poverty.
A starting point must be the realization of the centrality of decent work to poverty eradication
The “Sachs Report” fails to pay sufficient attention to a critical element: Employment and Decent Work
Towards a Global Partnership for Development
Towards a Global Partnership for Development
Under MDG8, governments of industrialized and developing countries agreed to forge a global partnership for development.
The realization of this goal is critical for providing an enabling environment To foster economic growth To revitalize productive economic sectors
at the local level To support a sustained emphasis on
employment policies, and the Decent Work Agenda
Under MDG8, governments of industrialized and developing countries agreed to forge a global partnership for development.
The realization of this goal is critical for providing an enabling environment To foster economic growth To revitalize productive economic sectors
at the local level To support a sustained emphasis on
employment policies, and the Decent Work Agenda
The Many Dimensions of Poverty
The Many Dimensions of Poverty
Poverty is multidimensional and many of its dimensions relate to the world
of work. People are poor because: They are deprived of the means to a
decent quality of life They lack stable, predictable and
adequate incomes They lack safe working conditions They are precluded from access to
supporting resources such as land, credit, and skills-training
Poverty is multidimensional and many of its dimensions relate to the world
of work. People are poor because: They are deprived of the means to a
decent quality of life They lack stable, predictable and
adequate incomes They lack safe working conditions They are precluded from access to
supporting resources such as land, credit, and skills-training
People are poor because (continued): They suffer discrimination and social
exclusion They are denied the rights to
organize into unions to improve their conditions of work
They lack the means to provide healthcare and to keep their children at school. Child labor becomes another dimension of poverty.
People are poor because (continued): They suffer discrimination and social
exclusion They are denied the rights to
organize into unions to improve their conditions of work
They lack the means to provide healthcare and to keep their children at school. Child labor becomes another dimension of poverty.
The Many Dimensions of Poverty
The Many Dimensions of Poverty
The Decent Work AgendaThe Decent Work AgendaAt the 89th International Labour Conference in June 1999, the ILO launched its Decent Work agenda, centered around four strategic objectives
1. To achieve fundamental principles and rights at work
2. To promote greater employment and income opportunities for both women and men
3. To aid in extending social protection4. To promote social dialogue
At the 89th International Labour Conference in June 1999, the ILO launched its Decent Work agenda, centered around four strategic objectives
1. To achieve fundamental principles and rights at work
2. To promote greater employment and income opportunities for both women and men
3. To aid in extending social protection4. To promote social dialogue
The Decent Work AgendaThe Decent Work Agenda Provides an overarching
policy framework and a set of mechanisms to achieve
“A Fair Globalization” Robust wealth and income
distributive mechanisms Economic growth Employment and pro-poor
growth Resource transfers to the poor
Provides an overarching policy framework and a set of mechanisms to achieve
“A Fair Globalization” Robust wealth and income
distributive mechanisms Economic growth Employment and pro-poor
growth Resource transfers to the poor
The Decent Work AgendaThe Decent Work Agenda Provides an overarching policy
framework and a set of mechanisms to achieve Social protections and the
promotion of basic rights Freedom of association
This enables the poor to organize and bargain collectively to attain adequate incomes and decent conditions of work
Social dialogue Participation through
representative workers’ organizations
Provides an overarching policy framework and a set of mechanisms to achieve Social protections and the
promotion of basic rights Freedom of association
This enables the poor to organize and bargain collectively to attain adequate incomes and decent conditions of work
Social dialogue Participation through
representative workers’ organizations
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent Work
Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent Work
Agenda Employment Intensive Approaches to Job Creation
By focusing on income transfers to the poor, pro-poor growth strategies can succeed in attacking poverty on multiple fronts and contribute to the attainment of the MDGs.
Supporting Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship
Promoting local and domestic entrepreneurship has been proven to be an excellent method for local empowerment and wealth building.
Employment Intensive Approaches to Job Creation
By focusing on income transfers to the poor, pro-poor growth strategies can succeed in attacking poverty on multiple fronts and contribute to the attainment of the MDGs.
Supporting Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship
Promoting local and domestic entrepreneurship has been proven to be an excellent method for local empowerment and wealth building.
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda Training and Skills Development
Investments in skills training including entrepreneurship and vocational skills enable people to begin working out of poverty
The ILO and UNDP have launched a number of training initiatives which demonstrate that skills acquisition can lead to both improved employment opportunities and incomes.
Training and Skills Development Investments in skills training including
entrepreneurship and vocational skills enable people to begin working out of poverty
The ILO and UNDP have launched a number of training initiatives which demonstrate that skills acquisition can lead to both improved employment opportunities and incomes.
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda Supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
•Small enterprises account for a large share of employment in developing countries
•Small and medium-sized enterprises have the ability to distribute wealth more evenly than large firms and increase economic growth. (See Figure)
Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Poverty Reduction
95% of the working poor lack access to credit markets
In developing countries the banking sector is reluctant to loan to the small business sector owing to lack of collateral
Formal savings in developing countries are minute
Priority: Improving availability of credit Microfinance offers a solution to these
problems and is supported under the decent work agenda
Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Poverty Reduction
95% of the working poor lack access to credit markets
In developing countries the banking sector is reluctant to loan to the small business sector owing to lack of collateral
Formal savings in developing countries are minute
Priority: Improving availability of credit Microfinance offers a solution to these
problems and is supported under the decent work agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda Cooperating out of Poverty Cooperatives provide an effective model
for community centered, participatory development
They facilitate pooling of community resources for sustainable development such as skills, capital, know-how, and organizational capacity.
They empower local communities Many trade unions have set up
cooperatives to provide a range of services to their members and to local communities.
Cooperating out of Poverty Cooperatives provide an effective model
for community centered, participatory development
They facilitate pooling of community resources for sustainable development such as skills, capital, know-how, and organizational capacity.
They empower local communities Many trade unions have set up
cooperatives to provide a range of services to their members and to local communities.
Workplace Health and Safety Over two million workers die every
year of work-related illnesses.
Accidents and health risks are associated with
Dangerous professions such as Mining Agriculture with its use of harmful
agrochemicals Manufacturing (Lack of Protective Clothing
and Equipment) Sweatshop conditions including poor
ventilation, lack of building codes, extremely long working hours
Workplace Health and Safety Over two million workers die every
year of work-related illnesses.
Accidents and health risks are associated with
Dangerous professions such as Mining Agriculture with its use of harmful
agrochemicals Manufacturing (Lack of Protective Clothing
and Equipment) Sweatshop conditions including poor
ventilation, lack of building codes, extremely long working hours
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda
Policy Perspectives Underlying the Decent
Work Agenda Workplace Health and Safety Unsafe, hazardous working conditions
are a dimension of poverty that must be addressed within the context of achieving the first millennium development goal.
Trade unions, and increasingly many governments, mark the 28th of April as the day of commemoration for dead and injured workers, to raise awareness of the need to address workplace health and safety issues.
Workplace Health and Safety Unsafe, hazardous working conditions
are a dimension of poverty that must be addressed within the context of achieving the first millennium development goal.
Trade unions, and increasingly many governments, mark the 28th of April as the day of commemoration for dead and injured workers, to raise awareness of the need to address workplace health and safety issues.
Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work
Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at
WorkTo escape poverty, people need more than progressive policies. They need to be empowered to participate and to be represented in the decision-making processes affecting their lives. They need voice at work through their freely chosen union representatives, and through the promotion of collective bargaining.
To escape poverty, people need more than progressive policies. They need to be empowered to participate and to be represented in the decision-making processes affecting their lives. They need voice at work through their freely chosen union representatives, and through the promotion of collective bargaining.
Basic Rights enshrined in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
Freedom of Association
•Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention, 1948 (No. 87)
•Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)
The Abolition of Forced Labor
•Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)
•Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)
Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work
Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work
Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work
Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at
WorkBasic Rights enshrined in the ILO
Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at
Work
Equality
• Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
• Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
The Elimination of Child Labor
• Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
• Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
Basic Rights enshrined in the ILO Declaration
on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
Equality
• Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)
• Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)
The Elimination of Child Labor
• Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138)
• Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182)
Combating Feminized Poverty
Combating Feminized Poverty Women are disproportionately affected by
economic deprivation, the lack of access to resources, and the poor integration into labour markets that are dimensions of the poverty trap
Overcoming these multiple discriminations involves setting and enforcing standards and social policy at the international level, and ensuring national-level compliance.
An appropriate policy framework would include, in addition to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Women are disproportionately affected by economic deprivation, the lack of access to resources, and the poor integration into labour markets that are dimensions of the poverty trap
Overcoming these multiple discriminations involves setting and enforcing standards and social policy at the international level, and ensuring national-level compliance.
An appropriate policy framework would include, in addition to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Ending Child LabourEnding Child Labour Nearly 250 million children are
participating in the workforce, deprived of education, and lacking decent healthcare
Child labour is both a cause and a symptom of poverty. It reinforces the situation of intergenerational poverty
Ending child labour must be an integral part of the decent work agenda.It must be linked to structural changes aimed at creating sustainable job opportunities for adults.
The ICFTU has played a major role in implementing the ILO’s International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC)
Nearly 250 million children are participating in the workforce, deprived of education, and lacking decent healthcare
Child labour is both a cause and a symptom of poverty. It reinforces the situation of intergenerational poverty
Ending child labour must be an integral part of the decent work agenda.It must be linked to structural changes aimed at creating sustainable job opportunities for adults.
The ICFTU has played a major role in implementing the ILO’s International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC)
Social Protection and Social Service ProvisionSocial Protection and
Social Service Provision Only about 10% to 25% of people in
developing countries are currently covered by some sort of insurance plan.
Lack of insurance against work and life-related risks are a dimension of poverty.
The ILO has begun consulting with over 40 different countries on strategies to develop social and income security systems adapted to their individual
situations.
Only about 10% to 25% of people in developing countries are currently covered by some sort of insurance plan.
Lack of insurance against work and life-related risks are a dimension of poverty.
The ILO has begun consulting with over 40 different countries on strategies to develop social and income security systems adapted to their individual
situations.
Providing Quality Public Services
Providing Quality Public Services
Privatization and user fees separate those who can pay for services and those who cannot. Both lead to deepening poverty, increased exclusion of women and children, and the marginalization of poor communities.
Health, education, water, and sanitation should remain in the public domain and be provided as quality public services with guaranteed access by all.
Privatization and user fees separate those who can pay for services and those who cannot. Both lead to deepening poverty, increased exclusion of women and children, and the marginalization of poor communities.
Health, education, water, and sanitation should remain in the public domain and be provided as quality public services with guaranteed access by all.
Towards a Global Partnership
to Promote the Decent Work Agenda
Towards a Global Partnership
to Promote the Decent Work Agenda For local economies to be productive, they
need a supportive national and global environment through this global partnership for development (MDG8), including the promotion of the Decent Work Agenda
It implies a clear role for national governments in providing an optimal regulatory environment to foster a good, socially responsible business climate.
At global level, the rules and decision making of the IFIs and the WTO should allow policy space to national governments, and should promote, not undermine national development efforts.
For local economies to be productive, they need a supportive national and global environment through this global partnership for development (MDG8), including the promotion of the Decent Work Agenda
It implies a clear role for national governments in providing an optimal regulatory environment to foster a good, socially responsible business climate.
At global level, the rules and decision making of the IFIs and the WTO should allow policy space to national governments, and should promote, not undermine national development efforts.