Employmentweb_low

EmploymEnT, woRk, and hEalTh inEqualiTiEs - a global perspective
Rural cooperative sustained by the ilo gathering women from the
kesavarayampatti village (madras). some journalists are visiting the
project (india).
source: © ilo/M. crozet (2002)
in contrast, international efforts have been frustrated in their
efforts. The ilo’s decent work agenda lacks meaningful enforcement
and efficacy despite having provided a global framework for structuring
policy intervention. similarly, the quality of work policy debate within
the eU has lapsed in the face of opposition on the part of employers and
the importance of practicing neo-liberal economic policy. despite these
unfruitful efforts, there is a further need to consider globally
enforceable supply chain laws that protect workers in both wealthy and
poor countries. voluntary codes and other manifestations of corporate
social responsibility (csr) offer a fragmented and inadequately
enforced remedy which fails to empower workers/producers (including
affording them key input in terms of monitoring and enforcement) or
challenge the commercial arrangements and social relations
underpinning poor labour standards in global production systems
(lum, 2003; Barrientos & smith, 2007; Mcdonald, 2007; newell &
frynas 2007). as of yet, little consideration has been given to policy
interventions stemming practices which deteriorate occupational
health and safety, such as downsizing or taxation policies that
encourage the expansion of informal work or self-employment. some
countries are reconsidering or re-regulating areas of flexible
employment, but contradictory socioeconomic policies and the
underlying incentives for these arrangements remain largely
unaddressed, highlighting the need for useful macro framework to
overcome these issues (see case study 73).
The narrow notion of efficiency within neoliberal policy
discourse, which gives rise to problems and contradictions for
policy-makers, needs to be questioned in favour of one that
recognises broader social efficiency based on
Un human development indicators and
sustainability, including occupational health
and safety (lefeber & vietorisz, 2007).
Ultimately, revised labour standards need to
be dovetailed with a more proactive approach
towards work quality in wealthy countries
and basic poverty abatement in poor
countries (including the provision of food and
low-cost health services). such changes may
affect both the distribution of employment
conditions and their specific content. let us
illustrate this point with some examples.
a change affecting the distribution of
conditions of employment would, for
example, be the legalisation of temporary
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