38 FUNDING DEVELOPMENTMaking decent workand inclusive growth a realityMeaningful, fair-paid and safe jobs should be at the heartof an inclusive, equitable and sustainable development agendaBy Guy Ryder, Director-General,International Labour OrganizationAs the UN explores and navigatesmyriad development issuesthrough inter-governmentaldiscussions, expert policy dialogues,analyses by senior political leaders andcountless multi-stakeholder meetings, onetheme has repeatedly been identified as akey priority for the future of sustainabledevelopment and inclusive economicgrowth: decent work.Tens of millions of people globally haveresponded to the UN’s call to voice theirhopes and aspirations for a future theywant. Their reply, overwhelmingly, has setaccess to a quality job as a top priority. In arecent speech, the UN Secretary-Generalsaid that “work is more than a source ofincome, it is a source of dignity”.Work connects people to their societiesand economies, and often shapes a person’sself-definition. Access to safe, productiveand fairly remunerated work – the essenceof decent work – is extremely important,assuring a sense of self-worth amongwomen and men. It enables them toprovide for their families while makinga productive contribution to the widersociety and helps to build the foundation ofstable communities.Societies’ capacity to offer opportunitiesto work in dignity will be central toshaping the kind of future to which wecan look forward. Deeply disturbed by thepresent trend toward growing economicinequality globally, Pope Francis recentlydeclared that the dignity of each humanperson and the pursuit of the commongood are concerns which ought to shapeall economic policies. For the InternationalLabour Organization (ILO) the goal ofdecent work must help shape such policies.Decent work and inclusive growth aredirectly linked and mutually supportive.Economic transformation and growth canhelp to open up opportunities for decentwork while more and better jobs feedback into the growth dynamic, making itmore inclusive and sustainable. We haveseen that where jobs are scarce there isless growth, less security and less humanand economic development. Conversely,where jobs are being created incomes grow,stimulating consumption, which in turnhelps strengthen aggregate demand andenhance growth.The promotion of decentwork is indispensableif economic growth isto be more inclusiveHowever, decent work does not happenon its own. It requires job-rich growthstrategies, active labour market policies,economic diversification into high valueaddedsectors and improving workplaceconditions that nurture higher levels ofproductivity. Enabling conditions areneeded to facilitate the transition from theinformal to the formal economy and boostthe development and growth of micro-,small and medium-sized enterprises.For their part, businesses need toincrease investments into productivecapacities and actively promote creativityand innovation at work and, moregenerally, focus on investing in developinga well-trained workforce capable ofadapting to changing market conditions.An economically dynamic and inclusivefuture demands that special attentionbe given to youth. It is estimated that470 million young people will join thelabour force between 2015 and 2030.Their employability must be a priorityconcern. Looking over the horizon, it willbe difficult to imagine a sustainable andpeaceful world in 2030 if we fail to rise tothe youth employment challenge.Experience and research have longshown that investing in people, throughformal education, technical and vocationaltraining, social protection initiatives,application of rights and good conditionsat work can generate immense social andeconomic dividends. From a world of workperspective, developing human capital is akey to enhancing labour productivity andjob quality.Effective strategies to develop skillsfor employability and anticipating whichskills will be needed in the future willrequire inter-governmental coordination.Additionally, it will need the developmentof curricula in consultation with employersto better align education and trainingrequirements with real-world demands thatare relevant to local and global conditions.A solid foundation for economic growthis built on specific policy measures thathelp mitigate the effects of economicshocks and downturns, and, mostimportantly, help break the cycle of intergenerationalpoverty. Social protectionGLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2014
FUNDING DEVELOPMENT39© Greg Funnell/ActionAidsystems, including national floors of socialprotection, contribute to economic andsocial development by ensuring that peopleenjoy a basic level of income security,have effective access to healthcare andother essential social services, and areempowered to take advantage of economicopportunities.Social protection plays a key role inboosting domestic demand, transformingnational economies, promoting decentwork, and fostering inclusive andsustainable growth. Recent evidence showsthat proactive wage and social protectionpolicies have contributed positively toreductions in income inequalities in severalcountries over the past decade.Respect for labour rights and ensuringthe safety of workers at work shouldalso be central to any future sustainabledevelopment agenda. Every year around260 million people are victims of workplaceaccidents – often preventable. The humancost exacts a monetary cost equal to fourper cent of global GDP. Investing in safeand secure work environments preventsaccidents and saves lives and also increasesproductivity and competitiveness.The current discussions on the post-2015 development agenda are focused notonly on what is important, but also on howthese goals can be implemented. The ILO’sinternational labour standards and policyframeworks can serve as a basis for thedevelopment of national policy responsesto development challenges.For example, the ILO’s Global Jobs Pacthas received wide support for its range ofpolicy options that promote job-friendlyeconomic recovery and inclusive growth.The ILO’s call for action on the youthemployment crisis presents an evidencebasedapproach to designing effectivestrategies and policies that generate decentSullayman, welding at an ActionAid-supportedtraining centre in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The centrehelps homeless orphans and war victims acquire theskills they need to find employmentemployment for young women and men.Also, the ILO’s recommendation onnational floors of social protection providesa policy framework to increase socialprotection coverage that can be adapted toa country’s specific circumstances.The promotion of decent work isindispensable if economic growth is to bemore inclusive, particularly in the face ofwidening inequalities. As the internationalcommunity’s new vision of developmentcomes into sharper focus, it should be ourobjective and collective determination toensure that decent work is at the heartof an inclusive, equitable and sustainabledevelopment agenda for this andsucceeding generations.GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2014
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