Half the world's workers earn less than two dollars a day. Half of the world's population have no welfare protection. The concept of decent work for all is a way of tackling these inequalities,' said EU Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner, Vladimír Špidla. 'Better economic growth is no guarantee of better jobs or less poverty. Economic and social progress need to go hand in hand - this is a challenge for both public authorities and business.'
The Commission's Communication aims to go beyond just ensuring minimum labour rights, but give a clear indication how promoting decent work can be achieved. This includes promoting job creation, improved governance and social dialogue, identifying and addressing decent work deficits, better cooperation between the main stakeholders and reducing corruption. There is also a business case to improving decent work, as it contributes to improved economic performance.
Concrete activities will include developing means of measuring and addressing decent work, gauging the effect of trade on decent work, strengthening the contribution of decent work in EU development policy and external aid and reinforcing cooperation with regional, international organisations, the business community and other parts of civil society.
The Commission will emphasise the need for decent work for all in its agreements and cooperation with countries outside the EU including candidate, neighbouring, developing and developed countries. Strengthening decent work in an open trade regime will be important in EU trade policies. Workers in the informal economy in developed countries can lack the elements needed for 'decent work'. The Commission will also encourage each country to formulate a 'road map' towards establishing decent work for all, taking into account the needs and specific situations of partner countries.
The United Nations Summit affirmed last September that fair globalisation and decent work for all have to be fundamental objectives in both national and international policies, as well as development strategies. Today's Communication affirms the commitment of the Commission's commitment to contributing to the effective implementation of promoting decent work for all in the world.
The Commission will publish an outline of progress achieved in the area by the summer 2008.
More information :
Employment, Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities
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