Realizing decent work in the railways sector

Railways transformed inland transport, enabling goods to be brought from coastal ports to inland cities, and they advanced the exploration of natural resources in locations other than those accessible by navigable rivers or roads. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the development of rail transport brought significant changes to the mobility of passengers and freight, with rail playing a fundamental role in the expansion of resource, industrial and urban landscapes. New resources became available on regional and global markets, and the historical link between the railways, development and urbanization is well established.

While railways initially played a dominant role in shaping the economic, political and social geography of territories in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, their influence was increasingly overshadowed in the later part of the twentieth century by greater investments made in other modes of transport, such as air and road. Over the past 30 years, the industry has undergone substantial transformation, necessitating adaptation to evolving conditions. The continual growth in the number of passengers and the volume of goods transported, along with intensifying competition from road and air transport in particular, has driven widespread adoption of new technologies and new forms of work organization. These developments have resulted in the segmentation and restructuring of rail transport in an effort to remain competitive within a rapidly changing landscape.

This report is prepared by the International Labour Office as the basis for discussions at the Technical meeting on decent work in the railways sector, which will be held in Geneva from 1 to 5 September 2025. It covers the railways sector – including both passenger railways and freight railways – for urban, suburban or long-distance services. Part 1 reviews trends and developments in the sector; it highlights relevant international issues and governance frameworks and includes sections on the industry’s composition, structure, and trends and employment. Part 2 includes information on the current and emerging issues that have an impact on the sector. Prioritizing sustainable frameworks will require identifying opportunities and tackling challenges in terms of financing, innovation, just transition and safety. Parts 1 and 2 provide the background and context for Part 3, which discusses labour aspects and practices in terms of realizing decent work to revitalize and make railways more sustainable. These include rights and enabling environments, human capital investments and safety investments.