Employmentweb_low

conclusions and recommendations
Efforts to reduce social inequalities in health should be
understood, in general, as part of global and local integrated
economic and social policies and, in particular, of specific public
health and occupational programmes and interventions. Examples
of interventions include universal access to public education,
legislation on living wage, income redistribution through progressive
tax systems and social services, avoidance of gender, racial and
ethnic wage gaps and other forms of discrimination, and protection
of the right to organise and collective bargaining. Evidence of the
failure of existing regulations to protect vulnerable workers, even in
wealthy countries, generally reflects a failure of enforcement rather
than an argument against the regulatory option.
The health sector should take on an important role in the
achievement of health equity for workers and their families. it can do
so by including discussions about economic development models,
labour market policies, regulations on employment and working
conditions and evidence of their impact on the health of workers and
their families.
international institutions, governments and political parties,
unions, and civil society associations favouring fair employment
relations are key actors in implementing effective policies leading to
the reduction of employment-related health inequalities.
nevertheless, a crucial issue to consider is the need to expand the
participation of workers and unions, as well as the participation of
social movements based on social class, gender, race, ethnicity,
migration or other social relations affecting employment conditions.
Given the relative lack of information available on the
effectiveness of labour market interventions in the reduction of
health inequalities, it is crucial to search for actions based on the
most sound theoretical frameworks, such as the realistic approach
used in this book. As expressed recently by the WHo’s Commission
on social Determinantes of Health, it is neccessary to progress
towards surveillance systems that include the determinants of
health and health inequalities. development of information systems
that include health and health equity among workers is critical to
this end, together with follow-up and impact on policies and
programmes for mitigating and reducing health inequities among
workers. it is necessary, then, to carry out studies that facilitate the
knowledge and use of the employment indicators most adequate for
surveillance and monitoring of health inequalities. There is also an
urgent need to expand the evaluation and monitoring of policies and
interventions in the short-, mid- and long-term, especially in lowincome
countries, small-size firms and rural settings.
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