This month is dedicated to the Social Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The SDG8 promotes sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.1 It is the only SDG that brings together social, economic and environmental targets, which – should they are achieved – will act as driver for the realization of all the other goals.

The SDG 8 Goal sets 12 targets, the progress on which is measured based on specific indicators. We explored it in more detail. 

 What is decent work?  

Decent work refers to the promotion of ‘opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity’.

The four main pillars of the decent work concept are quality employment for all, respect of fundamental rights & principles at work, social protection for all, and social dialogue and tripartism.  

To measure progress on decent work, ILO developed a framework of indicators, covering ten substantive elements, corresponding to the above pillars, and in essence providing a more concrete picture of what makes work decent.

These elements are the following:  

> Employment opportunities; 

> Adequate earnings and productive work ; 

> Decent working time; 

> Combining work, family and personal life; 

> Work that should be abolished; 

> Stability and security of work ;

> Equal opportunity and treatment in employment; 

> Safe work environment; 

> Social security; 

> Social dialogue, employers’ and workers’ representation.

In the heart of the endeavour to promote and secure decent work for all is the eradication of forced labour and child labour worldwide. As demonstrated by the most recent data available, 86% of forced labour cases are being imposed by private actors, primarily in sectors of private economy other than sexual exploitation.

This means that promoting decent work cannot be achieved without the cooperation of businesses which have to step up and assume responsibility by undertaking meaningful human rights due diligence that will allow them to identify and address forced labour risks associated with poor working conditions throughout their operations and supply chains. 

If your business wants to learn more on the concept of decent work and better understand what are the benefits of promoting it and the necessary steps it can take to that end, then stay tuned for the upcoming e-learning training of Ardea International on Decent Work and express your interest in attending it by contacting us to the following email address:  hello@ardeainternational.com