Agri-food sector can be driver of decent work and sustainable enterprise development
At a conference in Brussels, the ILO said that decent work in the agri-food sector is essential to build sustainable food systems, which ensure food security without compromising the economic, social and environmental foundations for present and for future generations.
26 June 2023
BRUSSELS (ILO News) - Mariangels Fortuny, Head of Unit, Forestry, Agriculture, Construction and Tourism at the ILO, participated in a Conference entitled “CAP reform - Is 'social conditionality' the answer for agri-workers?”, a EurActiv event with the support of the EU.
There are many decent work deficits in agriculture. The sector is characterized by high informality. Around 10 million workers are engaged in agriculture in the EU, with a significant proportion working informally. According to ILO estimates, agriculture is the most represented sector in the informal economy in the EU.
The decent work deficits in agriculture include low wages, poor working conditions and a lack of safety and health at work. However, the agri-food sector can be an important driver of decent work and sustainable enterprise development. “A socially, environmentally and economically sustainable agri-food sector with full, productive and freely chosen employment and decent work at its core is essential for eradicating poverty, tackling inequalities and ending global hunger,” said Ms Fortuny.
The ILO underscored the importance of social dialogue, occupational safety and health and labour inspection, to promote decent work in the sector. Tripartite involvement will be necessary in the coming years, when social conditionality measures will be introduced and implemented, in particular for monitoring and evaluating measures.
“We need to strengthen labour market institutions, including labour inspection, which is very weak in some countries,” said Ms Fortuny. The ILO has adopted over 30 international standards on agriculture and rural development including the Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11), the Rural Workers’ Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141), the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184) and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129).
She highlighted the recently adopted ILO Policy guidelines for the promotion of decent work in the agri-food sector, which were agreed on a tripartite basis. The guidelines set out common principles and the policy framework to guide action to achieve decent work in the agri-food sector, and provide valuable guidance for the EU’s social conditionality efforts. The guidelines emphasize the importance of effective and efficient public governance systems and the respective and complementary roles of different actors.
There are many decent work deficits in agriculture. The sector is characterized by high informality. Around 10 million workers are engaged in agriculture in the EU, with a significant proportion working informally. According to ILO estimates, agriculture is the most represented sector in the informal economy in the EU.
The decent work deficits in agriculture include low wages, poor working conditions and a lack of safety and health at work. However, the agri-food sector can be an important driver of decent work and sustainable enterprise development. “A socially, environmentally and economically sustainable agri-food sector with full, productive and freely chosen employment and decent work at its core is essential for eradicating poverty, tackling inequalities and ending global hunger,” said Ms Fortuny.
The ILO underscored the importance of social dialogue, occupational safety and health and labour inspection, to promote decent work in the sector. Tripartite involvement will be necessary in the coming years, when social conditionality measures will be introduced and implemented, in particular for monitoring and evaluating measures.
“We need to strengthen labour market institutions, including labour inspection, which is very weak in some countries,” said Ms Fortuny. The ILO has adopted over 30 international standards on agriculture and rural development including the Right of Association (Agriculture) Convention, 1921 (No. 11), the Rural Workers’ Organisations Convention, 1975 (No. 141), the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184) and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129).
She highlighted the recently adopted ILO Policy guidelines for the promotion of decent work in the agri-food sector, which were agreed on a tripartite basis. The guidelines set out common principles and the policy framework to guide action to achieve decent work in the agri-food sector, and provide valuable guidance for the EU’s social conditionality efforts. The guidelines emphasize the importance of effective and efficient public governance systems and the respective and complementary roles of different actors.