Decent work & vocational training

4. A first approximation to the meaning of the expression "decent work" may be the purely grammatical approach, which does not always coincide with technical concepts. Nevertheless, in this case the literal sense of "decent work" is particularly appropriate, at least in Spanish and in English.

In effect, in English one of the first acceptations of the word "decent" is "satisfactory, of an acceptable standard". One of the dictionaries looked up provides the following example: "All she wants is a decent job with decent wages"(8). And in Spanish the third acceptation for the word "decente" (decent) is "of good quality and in sufficient quantity". Which is evidence that, even in common language, a decent job is at least sufficient in quality and quantity.(9)

5. As said earlier, the first express and formal mention of the expression decent work in the ILO and in labour science appears to have occurred in the Director General’s Report to the International Labour Conference in 1999, which bears that title. An initial definition is included there: productive work under conditions of freedom equity, security and dignity, in which rights are protected and adequate remuneration and social coverage are provided.(10)

Consequently in this first –preliminary – formulation, decent work was characterised by the following components: a) productive work; b) protection of rights; c) adequate pay and d) social coverage. According to what the same document went on to say, a fifth essential element would have to be added: e) tripartite approach and social dialogue. (11)

Apart from the above, the document under review mentions the decision of linking that preliminary notion of decent work to the four strategic objectives set for the 2000-2001 ILO programme, which would supposedly lead to decent work. They are :a) the promotion of labour rights; b) the promotion of employment; c) social protection for vulnerable situations, and d) the promotion of social dialogue.(12)

6. In a regional document issued shortly afterwards, decent work is described as a good quality job respecting the rights of workers and affording them some form of social protection(13). Some differences are worth noting: the idea of productive work is here replaced by that of good quality employment; there is no reference to adequate remuneration (which, however, could be implicit in the good quality adjective), to tripartism or social dialogue, although that also might pertain to the respect for the rights of workers.

Features that do not figure in the definition proposed by this document, are mentioned and developed subsequently, and include elements of interest like vocational training. (14)

7. Subsequently, in the first global report on follow-up procedures to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Labour Principles and Rights (1998), on the subject of trade union freedom and collective bargaining, union freedom is closely related to decent work, and considered a precondition for it.

In fact, the document begins by underlining "the crucial role of trade union freedom and collective bargaining to achieve decent work"(15), a concept that is subsequently reiterated. (16)

8. In other papers, the ILO Director General referred to concepts of a similar nature, underscoring some elements, adding others.

For instance, the statement that "by decent work we understand labour in conditions of freedom, equity, safety and human dignity"(17). New meaningful concepts are included, such as safety (security) which, as we shall see, has been growing in importance in the definition of decent work, as well as equity and human dignity, that are closely linked to the already mentioned ethical content of the idea.

Another definition by the ILO Director General himself, is that of decent work as productive toil in which rights are respected, security and protection are provided , as well as the possibility to take part in all decisions that may affect workers(18). In this case the ideas of safety (security) at work and the need for workers’ participation are foremost.

9. As mentioned earlier, the International Institute of Labour Studies (IILS) was asked to draw up a paradigm of decent work and formulate strategies for its dissemination and promotion. The first official documents issued by the IILS after this mandate include some comments that are worth noting.

On the one hand, the mandate says that the Institute’s central task will now be "to create a paradigm of decent work" and endow it with a" theoretical structure"(19). On the other hand, the Institute also relates this as yet ill defined concept of decent work to four of the ILO strategic objectives for 2000-2001, singling them out as its "four basic components"(20), and adding that decent work is not just the sum of these supposed components, but the result of their interaction(21).

Finally, the Institute’s Programme and Budget for 2000-2001 includes two interesting notions. One is that "the concept of decent work brings together a number of matters that have been the ILO’s concern since its origins(22) . Another one, that "decent work refers both to quality and to quantity".(23)

10. As a necessarily preliminary and provisional conclusion, we may say that ‘decent work’ is a concept that is being fashioned out; it is integrative and has a deep ethical content.

We may also add that within the ILO, the following characteristics have been attributed to it:

• it is productive and secure work
• it ensures respect of labour rights
• it provides an adequate income
• it offers social protection
• it includes social dialogue, union freedom, collective bargaining and participation

Safety (security) at work is highlighted in some of the already mentioned documents of the Director General, but it is also mentioned in one of the technical studies, which states that "decent work implies security" It is obvious that job security, which forms part of the quality of employment – also required - , calls for certain continuity or stability in the work relationship, and is at present closely linked with vocational training. But as we shall see below, this tends to become an essential component of the concept of decent work for other reasons, and may even be considered to be a prerequisite for it. The second part of this paper focuses on those aspects.

 

8. Oxford Wordplace Dictionary, Oxford, 1993, p. 165.
9. REAL ACADEMIA ESPAÑOLA, Diccionario de la lengua española, 21ª ed., Madrid 1992. Cf. BARRETO GHIONE, Hugo, Diálogo social y formación: una perspectiva desde los países del Mercosur y México, Serie Aportes para el Diálogo social y la Formación, Nº 7, Cinterfor/OIT, Montevideo 2001, par. 3 (being printed).
10. ILO, Decent Work, cit., p.15.
11. Ditto. pp. 15-16.
12. Ditto, pp. 4 – 5.
13. ILO, Decent work and protection for all. A priority for the Americas. Report of the Regional Director to the 14^th Regional Meeting of ILO Member States of the Americas, Lima, Peru. 1999, p.ii.
14. See below, Nos. 10 and 11.
15. ILO Your say in labour. Global Report on the follow-up of the ILO Declaration of the Fundamental Labour Principles and Rights, Geneva, 2000, p. VII.
16. Ditto, p. 2.
17. SOMAVIA, Juan, Decent jobs for all in a global economy; an ILO perspective, document submitted to the Third WTO Ministerial Meeting (30 Nov. 3 Dec. 1999), http://www.ilo.org.
18. SOMAVIA, Juan, Introduction in "Globalising Europe. Decent work in the information economy. Report of the Director General". Sixth European Regional Meeting, ILO, Geneva 2000, vol I, p. X.
19. IILS, Report of the Director, Geneva 2000, para. 9.
20. Ditto, paras. 14-15. This idea is picked up by the Report to the 42^nd Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Institute.(GB 279/17, 279^th M.) Geneva, 2000, para. 4.
21. Ditto.
22. IILS, Programme &Budget for 2000-2001, Geneva, 2000, pra. 32.
23. Ditto, para. 34.

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