The Future of Work: Trade Unions in Transformation

29 November 2019

It has become harder for trade unions in both developed and emerging countries to protect the rights of workers and working conditions, as shown not only in the reduction of unionization, but also the fall in the labour share of income in most countries.This issue of the Journal compiles the thoughts of leading academics on the topics that are shaping discussions on the future of work. The Journal aims to serve as a stepping stone for the labour movement in its own deliberations on how workers’organizations can react to the fundamental changes that are affecting the world of work, and that it will provide further reflections on the transformation of trade unions these changes might entail.

Waste pickers’ cooperatives and social and solidarity economy organizations

20 August 2019

Waste pickers make significant contributions to public health, sanitation, and the environment by promoting resource circulation and reducing the amount of landfill. However, they are often not legally recognized as workers and suffer from poor working conditions and lack of social protection. This brief highlights the role of waste pickers' cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy organizations (SSEOs) in integrating and formalizing the work of waste pickers in the recycling value chain and improving their working conditions.

Building decent work for all

15 October 2018

Digging in the construction value chain of Mozambique to build more green enterprises and empower women through job creation

Cooperatives meeting informal economy workers' child care needs - A Joint ILO and WIEGO Initiative

25 April 2018

Cooperatives set up and run by workers in the informal economy are among the solutions in meeting women workers’ care needs, while also helping protect their labour rights. This report complements the ILO's previous studies with cases from Brazil, India, and Guatemala on how informal economy workers’ organizations can mobilize through cooperatives to provide child care services to their members. The case studies highlight diverse forms of child care provision and outline the varied partnerships needed to implement and sustain child care services for informal economy workers.

Summary report - Advancing cooperation among women workers in the informal economy: The SEWA way

28 March 2018

This is a summary of the report “Advancing cooperation among women workers in the informal economy: The SEWA way” which aims to provide an understanding of the challenges and opportunities for cooperatives and other SSE enterprises in empowering women workers in the informal economy with a specific focus on the experience of Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).

Rural Women at Work: Bridging the gaps

06 March 2018

Rural women - a quarter of the world’s population - work as farmers, wage earners and entrepreneurs. They represent an important share of the agriculture workforce and their contribution to the rural economy is widely underestimated. They are concentrated in the informal economy in low-skilled, low-productivity, and low or unpaid jobs with long working hours. Released ahead of the International Women’s day 2018, this brief captures the challenges rural women face at work and makes recommendations on how to bridge these gaps.

Policy Brief: Gender, labour and a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all

20 December 2017

Gender, labour and a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all

07 November 2017

A global transition towards a low-carbon and sustainable economy presents several opportunities for achieving gender equality in the world of work that is critical for realizing the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. This publication highlights how a just transition with inclusive climate action can play a strong role in transforming gender norms and furthering gender equality, while ensuring women have the opportunity to participate as actors in combating climate change, building a green economy and generating green jobs.