World's DECENT WORK and ECONOMIC GROWTH: WHY IT

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DECENT WORK AND In 2019, ECONOMIC GROWTH: 22 per cent of the WHY IT MATTERS world’s What’s the goal here? see per capita incomes decline in 2020. Now, the To promote inclusive and economic and financial youth sustainable economic shocks associated with growth, employment and the pandemic—such as were not decent work for all. disruptions to industrial engaged Why? production, financial market volatility, and rising in either Sustained and inclusive insecurity—are derailing economic growth can the already tepid eco- education, drive progress, create nomic growth and com- decent jobs for all and pounding heightened improve living standards. risks from other factors. employment Even before the outbreak What does “decent or training of COVID-19, one in five countries – home to bil- work” mean? lions of people living in Decent work means oppor- poverty – were likely to tunities for everyone to get work that is productive More than one in six and basic services regard- and delivers a fair income, young people have less of their contract type, security in the workplace stopped working since as well as levelling the and social protection for the onset of the COVID- playing field so that all families, better prospects 19 pandemic while those aspiring youth can attain for personal development who remain employed productive employment and social integration. A have seen their working regardless of their gender, continued lack of decent hours cut by 23 per cent. income level or work opportunities, insuf- socio-economic Tourism is one of the ficient investments and background. economic sectors most under-consumption lead affected by the COVID- Governments can work to an erosion of the basic 19 pandemic due to the to build dynamic, sus- social contract underlying closure of borders, travel tainable, innovative and democratic societies: that bans and lockdown mea- people-centred econo- all must share in progress. sures. Depending on mies, promoting youth How many people when travel restrictions employment and wom- are lifted and national en’s economic empow- are unemployed? borders reopen, inter- erment, in particular, and The pandemic is national travel arrivals decent work for all. expected to have a in 2020 may decrease Implementing adequate devastating impact on by 60 to 80 per cent health and safety mea- global unemployment. compared with 2019. sures and promoting According to estimates supportive working from the International What can we do to environments are funda- Labour Organization, fix these issues? mental to protecting the global working hours Providing youth the best safety of workers, espe- could drop by 14 per opportunity to transition cially relevant for health cent in the second to a decent job calls for workers and those pro- quarter of 2020. This is investing in education viding essential services. equivalent to approx- and training of the high- imately 400 million To find out more est possible quality, pro- full-time workers doing about Goal #8 and viding youth with skills a 48-hour work week. other Sustainable that match labour market The eventual increase in Development Goals, visit: demands, giving them global unemployment access to social protection http://www.un.org/ over 2020 will depend sustainabledevelopment on how effectively pol- icy measures preserve existing jobs and boost labour demand once the recovery phase begins.