Employmentweb_low

EMployMEnt, Work, And hEAlth InEqUAlItIES - a global perspective
The primacy of fair employment and decent work
The concept of fair employment needs to be distinguished from that
of decent work, with fair employment reflecting the need to redress
unequal power relations embedded in employment relations.
The achievement of fair employment requires that serious action
be taken on the following dimensions: (1) freedom from coercion,
which excludes all forms of forced labour such as bonded labour,
slave labour or child labour; (2) job security, in terms of contracts
and safe employment conditions; (3) fair income, that is, enough to
guarantee an adequate livelihood relative to the needs of society; (4)
job protection and the availability of social benefits, including
provisions that allow for harmony between working life and family
life, and retirement income; (5) respect and dignity at work, so that
workers are not discriminated against because of their gender,
ethnicity, race or social class; (6) workplace participation, which
allows workers to have their own representatives and negotiate
their employment and working conditions collectively within a
regulated framework; and (7) enrichment and lack of alienation,
where work is not only a means of sustenance but, to the extent
possible, an integral part of human existence that does not stifle the
productive and creative capacities of human beings.
international political and public health institutions should
recognise fair employment and decent working conditions as
universal human rights. unless guaranteeing fair employment is
recognised as a priority by public health agencies and
international regulatory institutions, health inequalities in the
workplace are unlikely to be reduced. Action is needed to work
towards the development of global social protection that
guarantees fair employment and decent work for all citizens, all
over the world.
The links between employment conditions and health
inequalities
health inequalities derived from employment are closely linked to
other kinds of social inequalities, including inequalities in wealth,
political participation and education. through the regulation of
employment relations, main political actors can not only
redistribute resources affecting social stratification, but also have
an impact on the life experiences of different social groups,
including opportunities for well-being, exposure to hazards leading
to disease and access to health care.
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