Working Papers, vehicles for disseminating information on a range of topics related to the world of work and the evolution of social and labour policies and practices for a given sector, are regularly published and widely disseminated. Background reports and issues papers, which provide more in-depth analysis on specific issues, are also published for discussion at international tripartite meetings and global dialogue fora.

Publications

The Sectoral Policies Department is the ILO’s repository of knowledge on sector-specific labour and social issues. Research and studies conducted, in line with the ILO’s research policies, deal with emerging and priority issues of strong interest for ILO’s sectoral constituents.

2021

  1. Publication

    Info-graphic on the Future of Work in Information and Communication Technology

    22 November 2021

  2. Publication

    Cooperatives and the wider social and solidarity economy as vehicles to decent work in the culture and creative sector

    28 October 2021

    Recognizing the important role that the creative economy plays in social and economic progress, the UN General Assembly declared 2021 as the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. The culture and creative sector (CCS), includes music production, movies, theatres and radio broadcasting, with many artists in the sector working in informal and precarious arrangements. With the COVID-19 pandemic, existing vulnerabilities have been further exacerbated, calling for attention to socially innovative organizing and business models in CCS. Social and solidarity economy (SSE) units, including cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations and social enterprises, can provide value and principle based services and livelihoods options to CCS workers. In light of the upcoming general discussion on SSE for a human-centred future of work at the 110th Session of the International Labour Conference, this brief highlights how SSE units in the CCS can contribute to advancing rights at work, improving quality of jobs, ensuring access to social protection, and fostering local economic development

  3. Publication

    Caring for those who care: National Programmes for Occupational Health for Health Workers

    22 October 2021

    This policy brief, jointly produced by WHO and ILO, is intended to provide a short overview on the issues and recommendations for policy decision-makers in ministries of health and ministries of employment and labour; local authorities; managers of health facilities; professional associations of the various groups of health workers; and organizations of workers and employers in the health sector.

  4. Publication

    Agenda - South Asian Sub-Regional Workshop on Decent Work for Sanitation Workers, 11-13 October 2021 13h00-16h IST (UCT + 5:30 )

    04 October 2021

  5. Study

    Women in mining: Towards gender equality

    27 September 2021

  6. © ILO 2024

    Briefing note

    COVID-19 and the port sector

    05 July 2021

    Ports provide key infrastructure in support of international trade and the global economy. They vary in size from wharves handling at most a few hundred tonnes of cargo a year to large international ports or multi-modal hubs combining a broad range of logistical services, from warehousing to total supply chain management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ports have had to adjust to the reality of lower volumes, worker shortages, the implementation of occupational health and safety measures for dockers and shore personnel, and the adoption of teleworking and remote operations for office workers. In some countries, calls by cruise ships have come to a halt. This policy brief summarizes the issues relating to COVID-19 and decent work challenges in the port sector.

  7. Publication

    Les intermittents du spectacle

    25 June 2021

  8. Briefing note

    Is public sector employment a haven in the COVID-19 jobs crisis?

    14 June 2021

    It looks as if job opportunities in the public sector have provided a respite from the shrinking private sector during the dark days of the COVID-19 crisis, at least for some women.

  9. Publication

    UPU Guide to Postal Social Services

    11 June 2021

  10. Social Protection Spotlight

    Extending social protection to the cultural and creative sector

    13 May 2021

    Workers in the cultural and creative sector often lack effective access to social protection.