Publications

July 2021

  1. Workers’ rights and human rights: Resolving historical tensions through a multi-tiered social security agenda

    02 July 2021

    This article considers the historical development of social security systems; the mixed messaging and false choices in contemporary policy circles; the potential for resolving these tensions through a return to inclusive, lifecycle multi-tiered frameworks; the evolving role of workers’ organizations within this context and some potential axes for action in a post-COVID world.

June 2021

  1. COVID-19 and Recovery: The Role of Trade Unions in Building Forward Better

    25 June 2021

  2. COVID-19 and Recovery: The Role of Trade Unions in Building Forward Better

    24 June 2021

    This year's International Journal of Labour Research explores strategies for workers and their organizations to shape COVID-19 response policies as well as adapting internally to provide vital services to workers and continue fulfilling their societal role as advocate for social justice and workers’ rights. As such, the journal reveals key findings on various topics that are of special interest to trade unions and provide guidance on policies in building forward better.

January 2021

  1. A Global Trend Analysis on the Role of Trade Unions in Times of COVID-19

    25 January 2021

  2. A Global trend analysis on the role of trade unions in times of COVID-19

    25 January 2021

    This Policy Brief is primarily directed to workers and their organizations. Its main purpose is to promote a better understanding of the pivotal role trade unions have played in COVID-19 responses worldwide either through tripartite and bipartite social dialogue, bilateral interactions with their governments or targeted actions carried out in support of their members and society as a whole.

October 2020

  1. Financing gaps in social protection

    21 October 2020

    Global estimates and strategies for developing countries in light of the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

  2. The Protection We Want: Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific

    15 October 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for well-functioning social protection systems in the region as never before. A new UN report reveals that despite their rapid socioeconomic ascent, most countries in the Asia-Pacific region have weak social protection systems riddled with gaps.

  3. The role of social dialogue in formulating social protection responses to the COVID-19 crisis

    07 October 2020

    Social dialogue is not only essential for informing social protection preparedness prior to shocks, but also for formulating immediate responses in crisis contexts when there is a high risk of social conflict. Social dialogue should be pursued on a continuous basis as countries address the various phases of crises and tackle the particular challenges arising in the medium and long terms.

September 2020

  1. Brief on Financing gaps in social protection

    17 September 2020

    Global estimates and strategies for developing countries in light of the COVID-19 crisis and beyond

May 2020

  1. © P.Lopez/ AFP 2022
    COVID-19 Crisis: Why ILO Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation(R205) is relevant for Trade Unions?

    02 May 2020

    ILO Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation (R205), which was adopted by the International Labour Conference (ILC) in June 2017, provides detailed guidance to constituents on how best to deal with crisis situations arising from conflicts and disasters.

  2. © Chassenet / BSIP via AFP 2022
    COVID-19 Crisis: Why ILO Social Protection Floors Recommendation (R202) is relevant for Trade Unions?

    02 May 2020

    ILO Recommendation (R202) was adopted by ILO constituents in the aftermath of the 2008 financial and economic crisis, expressing the commitment of member States to ensure that all members of society enjoy at least a basic level of social protection throughout their lives.

  3. © Xavier Donat 2022
    Importance of the effective respect and implementation of ILO’s International Labour Standards in the context of the outbreak of COVID

    02 May 2020

    In situations of crisis, such as the one the world is facing with COVID-19, it is crucial to respect and implement International Labour Standards (ILS) within the framework of the rule of law.

March 2020

  1. © dronepicr 2022
    COVID-19 and R205: what role for workers’ organizations?

    24 March 2020

    This note prepared by the ILO’s Bureau for Workers’Activities (ACTRAV) shows why the ILO Recommendation No 205 on Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience (R205) is an effective instrument for governments, employers and workers organizations to address the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

February 2020

  1. Social protection systems for all to prevent homelessness and facilitate access to adequate housing

    20 February 2020

    The role of social protection systems in reducing poverty and inequality, preventing homelessness, and facilitating access to adequate housing.

January 2020

  1. Interactions between Workers’ Organizations and Workers in the Informal Economy: A Compendium of Practice

    30 January 2020

    A compilation of concrete examples, drawn from around the world, showing how trade unions have sought to reach out to workers in the informal economy to reduce the decent work deficits they face and support their transition to formality.

June 2013

  1. Decent Work for Domestic Workers The state of labour rights, social protection and trade union initiatives in Europe

    19 June 2013

    Domestic work has come to the fore of international attention with the adoption of ILO Convention 189 and Recommendation 201 concerning Decent work for domestic workers by the International Labour Conference in 2011. It has also been the topic of a 2012 European training program of the Programme for Workers Activities of the International Training Centre of the ILO, organised in cooperation with the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) and funded by the EU.

June 2012

  1. Confronting Finance: Mobilizing the 99% for economic and social progress

    15 June 2012

    "The Global Labour Column has become a valuable source of analysis of current economic trends that affect working people all over the world. This anthology brings together critical pieces on many issues (fiscal strategies, finance policies, social protection, strategies for job creation and much more), encompassing different regions and various perspectives." -Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

November 2011

  1. Working for a Social Protection Floor by Ellen Ehmke & Andreas Bodemer

    28 November 2011

    Worldwide, 75% of the population have no or insufficient access to social security provision. Despite the long record of social security as a human right, which is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Art. 22, 25) and the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (Art. 9), its implementation has been widely disregarded.

June 2010

  1. Winning Fair Labour Standards for Domestic Workers: Lessons Learned from the Campaign for a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights in New York State

    15 June 2010

    This paper attempts to identify the core reasons for the success of the Domestic Workers United (DWU) Domestic Worker Bill of Rights Campaign while explaining how the strategies adopted overcame particular challenges.

April 2000

  1. Social protection: What workers and trade unions should know

    01 April 2000

    Labour Education 2000/4 No. 121: Much has been said about social security, and misconception, exaggeration, preconceived ideas and peremptory judgements are not absent in the talks. Labour Education attempts in this issue to examine the question with sobriety. Social security is too vital an area for millions of people to substitute ideology or profit for experience or common sense.