World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization

The ILO and globalization

ILO Governing Body Working Party on the Social Dimension of Globalization

Recent events and publications

International policy developments

ILO publications

Publications
 

Decent work in the global economy

IPG Discussion paper No. 1, April 2001

This paper reviews the decent work goal and how it can be achieved in the context of globalization. It summarizes some of the ways in which globalization impinges on the different dimensions of decent work, and indicates some routes forward, both those foreseen in the programme of the ILO, and others which might guide the international community in the future. In particular, it suggests ways in which an integrated framework encompassing both economic and social goals might be developed.

Download full document in Acrobat format (200kB)

Download individual sections (Acrobat format):

Introduction (27kB)

1. Globalization and Decent Work (30kB)

2. Decent Work and the Changing Organization of Production (70kB)

2.1 Globalization, decent work and new industrial patterns:

• Production chains and enterprise interdependence
• Small and medium enterprises
• Export processing zones
• Information technology and the knowledge economy

2.2 The informal economy

2.3 The rural sector

3. Tackling the Issues (100kB)

3.1 The ILO Programme on Decent Work in the Global Economy

• The first objective: employment for all women and men
• InFocus: Small and medium enterprises
• InFocus: Skills, knowledge and employability
• InFocus: Crisis response and employment intensive investment
• The second objective: promoting human rights at work
• InFocus: The Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
• InFocus: Child labour
• The third objective: protection and security
• InFocus: Safe work
• InFocus: Social and economic security
• The fourth objective: promoting social dialogue
• InFocus: Institutions and capabilities for social dialogue

3.2 Institutions to promote decent work in the new global economy

• What are the options?

3.3 Decent work and normative action

• Normative action and the meaning of decent work
• Normative action and achieving decent work in the global economy

3.4 Decent Work as an Integrated Development Strategy