DECENT WORK FOR ALL

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DECENT WORK FOR ALL PRESENTATION TO UNI APRO
JOINT SECTOR CONFERENCE OCTOBER 2004 by Thérèse
Bryant SDA Australia
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Decent Work - dictionary definitions Decent
satisfactory, of an acceptable standard
of good quality and in sufficient
quantity A decent job sufficient in
quality and quantity
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ILO 1999 Definition of Decent Work productive
work under conditions of freedom, equity,
security and dignity, in which rights are
protected and adequate remuneration and social
coverage are provided Later ILO
reports Union freedom and collective bargaining
is a pre-condition for Decent Work
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• ILO 4 strategic objectives
• the promotion of labour rights
• the promotion of employment
• social protection for vulnerable situations and
• the promotion of social dialogue

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Quality of Work in terms of Workforce Structure
Continuum Permanent Casualisation
Informal Desperate Employment
Sector Measures for Survival Note Women
and young people make up the larger proportion
of workers at the lower end of the continuum.
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Female participation in the labour
force - consistently risen during the 80s and
90s in all Asian countries Children in the
labour force - widespread in South Asian
countries - in lowest paid and most hazardous
occupations Young people in developing
countries - finding good jobs is
difficult - unemployment benefit schemes
virtually non-existent - turn to the informal
economy as their last resort
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Informal Economy Below 10 employees Outside the
coverage of standard labour legislation South
Asian countries (India, Bangladesh,
Nepal) - increasing size of informal sector - as
much as 90 including agriculture South East
Asian countries (Singapore, Malaysia,
Philippines, Indonesia) - declining size of the
informal sector.
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Informal Economy East Asian countries - informal
sector smaller except in China - Japan
18 - Taiwan 30
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Workers of the informal sector face constraints
such as - inadequate and inequitable access to
credit and financial services - low skills and
poor access to skills training - lack of market
information and marketing channels - lack of
information on new technologies - inadequate
premises - lack of business advice and guidance
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Workers of the informal sector also suffer
from - lack of social protection due to the
absence of clear employer-employee relations,
such as no medical, maternity and other benefits
and no retirement pension - irregular and
unstable employment - exposure to occupational
and environmental health hazards - vulnerability
to exploitation and abuse, such as below minimum
wages, non-payment of work done by runaway
orderers, etc. - low awareness of their rights
as workers and as individuals - low levels of
organisation.
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Casualisation Includes - temporary - short
term, and - seasonal work Characterised
by - precariousness and - insecurity - often
low paid - workers not entitled to the same, if
any leave, pension benefits or social
protection, as permanent employees
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Permanent Work No guarantee of quality work A
better basis for job security and unions to
negotiate better conditions.
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Trade Union Membership Imperative for all as
means of achieving Decent Work. Lower fees for
those working less hours Acceptance of irregular
payments for irregular workers Support and
training for informal workers Solidarity with
casual workers
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Vocational Education and Training ILO - a
fundamental right of workers - closely related
to the essential components of decent
work - equality or non-discrimination - obtainin
g, retaining and advancing in a job,
portability - inclusion - especially for older
workers
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Poverty Decent work is the pathway to the
eradication of poverty 550 million workers in
the world earn less than US1 per day 330
million of them are women 60
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Growth of female headed households - directly
affects children and other dependants Insecure
and irregular work and low wages - less able to
provide for retirement - less able to benefit
from contributory social insurance schemes.
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In every region of the world In every sector of
the economy Women are the most
disadvantaged Why?
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One reason for womens disadvantage is Women
are the primary carers in our communities
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Women are disadvantaged in the decisions made
about their - education - health
treatment - vocational education and
training - recruitment - selection - promotion
- pregnancy - maternity - termination - redund
ancy
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Women are disadvantaged in the treatment
of - sexual harassment - harassment - bullyin
g - violence and the lack of action to prevent
these things occurring.
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For equity and to alleviate poverty more value
must be given to caring work and workplaces
must come to terms with workers having
caring responsibilities
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ILO Study on Discrimination Time for
Equality Widening socio-economic inequalities
in the world of work is a waste of human talent
and resources and could have disastrous effects
on - national cohesion political stability and
hence growth in the years to come. This may
be the most challenging task of contemporary
society, and is essential for social peace and
democracy.
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In Australia 80 of men and women workers rate
Work-Life balance of key importance Second only
to Being treated with Respect Flexible work
arrangements are more important to women than
base pay and long term career objectives.
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It is possible for working arrangements to
enhance workers ability to provide care and
support to others while being productive in the
workplace. Initiatives - rosters to consider
family responsibilities - paid leave for sick
children - part-time work with all the benefits
and protection of full-time workers.
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Women need - safe and healthy workplaces
especially when pregnant - maternity protection
with adequate financial support - good quality,
affordable child care As a community we all need
to take greater responsibility in recognising and
providing for the needs of children. Wider and
more democratic participation of people and
countries in the making of policies, which affect
them. Improvement in the representation of women
in these forums. Policy responses need to
integrate industrial relations, family,
population, and labour force policies.
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If we aim to achieve decent work for all women,
then we will be much closer to achieving decent
work for all.