ILO Working paper 39

Welfare Effects of Unemployment Benefits when Informality is High

05 August 2021

We analyze for the first time how the high incidence of informal employment affects the welfare effects of unemployment benefits (UBs) outside of developed economies, exploiting matched administrative and survey data from the UB scheme of Mauritius. We find positive and large welfare effects, because the consumption drop at layoff exceeds what studies find for high-income countries, while the efficiency costs are comparatively low. In addition, UB recipients appear to move into informal employment out of economic necessity, rather than as part of a strategic choice.

ILO Working paper 38

Freelance platform work in the Russian Federation: 2009–2019

26 July 2021

This paper traces the development of freelance platform work in the Russian Federation based on unique data from four online surveys conducted over the period 2009 and 2019 via the leading platform for creative and knowledge-based work and analyses the working conditions and well-being of the workers.

ILO Working paper 37

Trade and Decent Work: Adequate Earnings in the Mexican Manufacturing Industries

13 July 2021

This paper analyses the impact of non-preferential trade liberalization and exposure to globalization on “adequate earnings” in Mexico between 2003 and 2020, using data from the national labour force and manufacturing industries surveys. Trade liberalization and globalization contributed to a reduction in working poverty and low-wage workers.

ILO Working paper 36

Trade agreements and decent work in Mexico: the case of the automotive and textile industries

29 June 2021

The study applies the framework of decent work indicators developed by the International Labour Organization (ILO), in combination with input–output analysis, to explore selected links between international trade and certain indicators of decent work in two industries of Mexico’s manufacturing sector: automotive and textile.

ILO Working paper 35

Estimating labour market transitions from labour force surveys: The case of Viet Nam

23 June 2021

This paper discusses methodologies to estimate the incidence and frequency of labour market transitions, and applies these methodologies to labour force survey data from Viet Nam in 2011-19. It demonstrates the feasibility and value of transitions data for labour market analysis.

ILO Working paper 34

Old age work and income security in middle income countries: comparing the cases

25 May 2021

This paper considers the demographic ageing trend experienced in 35 middle-income countries. It examines employment and other related dimensions that can reflect their preparedness to secure adequate income for their ageing population. Drawing from country-specific indicators, this study applies factor analysis to approximate underlying relative differences between countries in terms of economic and social preparedness, distributional vulnerability and gender inequality.

ILO Working Paper 33

Preferential tax regimes for MSMEs: Operational aspects, impact evidence and policy implications

17 June 2021

ILO Working paper 32

Digital Work in Eastern Europe: Overview of Trends, Outcomes, and Policy Responses

25 May 2021

This paper presents the emergence and growth of digital labour markets in Eastern Europe over the period 1999-2019. It presents the profiles of digital workers, their working conditions and discusses how these are shaped by the business models of digital labour platforms.

ILO Working paper 31

Turning up the heat: Exploring potential links between climate change and gender-based violence and harassment in the garment sector

17 May 2021

This working paper highlights the intersection between climate change and gender-based violence and harassment by exploring how climate change, measured by increasing heat stress and extreme weather events, could lead to heightened violence being faced by the (mostly female) workers in the sector as a result of its impact on productivity.

ILO Working Paper 30

The impact of extreme weather on temporary work absence

12 May 2021

The study examines the impact that extreme weather has on temporary work absence in Jamaica, a central concern given the country’s negative experience with such events. The study uses quarterly data containing key labour market indicators on an unbalanced panel of individuals along with climatic data for the period 2004 to 2014. The findings are several.