ILC.104/VI International Labour Conference, 104th Session, 2015 Report VI Labour protection in a transforming world of work A recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of social protection (labour protection) Sixth item on the agenda International Labour Office, Geneva ISBN 978-92-2-129023-0 (print) ISBN 978-92-2-129024-7 (Web pdf) ISSN 0074-6681 First edition 2015 The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the International Labour Office, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. ILO publications can be obtained through major booksellers or ILO local offices in many countries, or direct from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Catalogues or lists of new publications are available free of charge from the above address, or by email: [email protected]. Visit our website: www.ilo.org/publns. Formatted by TTE: Confrep-ILC104-VI[WORKQ-150124-2]-En.docx Printed by the International Labour Office, Geneva, Switzerland Contents Page Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................... v Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Issues and challenges for labour protection in a transforming world of work ... 3 1.1. A transforming world of work ............................................................................ 3 1.2. Determinants of labour protection ..................................................................... 6 Chapter 2. Trends in labour protection ............................................................................... 9 2.1. Wage policies ................................................................................................... 9 2.2. Working time ..................................................................................................... 14 2.3. Occupational safety and health ........................................................................ 16 2.4. Maternity protection .......................................................................................... 18 Chapter 3. Policy challenges and responses in respect of labour protection ..................... 21 3.1. Wage policies ................................................................................................... 21 3.1.1. Minimum wages ..................................................................................... 21 3.1.2. Protection of wages ............................................................................... 26 3.2. Working hours ................................................................................................... 27 3.2.1. Long working hours ............................................................................... 27 3.2.2. Short hours ............................................................................................ 30 3.2.3. Promoting good quality part-time work .................................................. 31 3.2.4. Improving working-time arrangements (work schedules) ...................... 32 3.3. Occupational safety and health ........................................................................ 35 3.3.1. Responding to risks ............................................................................... 36 3.3.2. Inadequate resources ............................................................................ 40 3.3.3. Trends in economic growth and in the quantity and quality of employment ....................................................................................... 41 3.4. Maternity protection .......................................................................................... 43 Chapter 4. ILO responses to improve people’s working life ............................................... 47 4.1. Regulating and extending labour protection ..................................................... 47 4.1.1. Making work safe: Improving national OSH coverage ........................... 47 4.1.2. Making work pay: Extending minimum wage protection ........................ 51 4.1.3. Making work pay for women as well as for men .................................... 53 4.1.4. Regulating working time: Balancing workers’ and enterprises’ needs ... 55 ILC.104/VI iii Labour protection in a transforming world of work 4.2. Making labour protection inclusive .................................................................... 56 4.2.1. Enabling working parents and other workers to balance work and personal life .................................................................................... 56 4.2.2. Promoting safe and desirable workplaces for persons with disabilities .............................................................................................. 58 4.2.3. Extending protection to migrant workers ............................................... 59 4.2.4. Extending protection to domestic workers ............................................. 61 4.3. Enterprise performance and labour protection: A sustainable and integrated approach ................................................................................... 62 4.3.1. Improving compliance with standards .................................................... 62 4.3.2. Creating a virtuous cycle between productivity and working conditions ............................................................................................... 63 4.3.3. Governance, workers’ representation and labour protection ................. 64 Chapter 5. Conclusions and the way forward ..................................................................... 67 5.1. The ILO’s current response .............................................................................. 69 5.2. Moving forwards: Towards a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to labour protection ........................................................................... 70 5.3. Suggested points for discussion ....................................................................... 72 iv ILC.104/VI Abbreviations ACI area of critical importance EU European Union GDP gross domestic product ILO International Labour Organization ILOSTAT central statistics database of the ILO OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OSH occupational safety and health SME small and medium-sized enterprise ILC.104/VI v Introduction 1. The need to improve the conditions of labour that exist “involving such injustice, hardship and privation to large numbers of people as to produce unrest so great that the peace and harmony of the world are imperilled”, as stated in the Preamble to the ILO Constitution, was the underlying motivation for the ILO’s creation in 1919. Almost 90 years later, the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, 2008, reaffirmed the importance of the constitutional objectives of the ILO and stressed the need to develop and enhance measures of labour protection, including “healthy and safe working conditions; and policies in regard to wages and earnings, hours and other conditions of work, designed to ensure a just share of the fruits of progress to all and a minimum living wage to all employed and in need of such protection”. 1 Labour protection is grounded in the ILO’s founding values that labour is not a commodity and that improving conditions of work is central to social justice, countries’ prosperity and universal and lasting peace. 2. As set out in the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, social protection comprises two pillars: social security and labour protection. At its 100th Session (2011), the International Labour Conference held a recurrent discussion on social protection (social security); this year, the theme of the recurrent discussion will be social protection (labour protection). Labour protection and social security are complementary and together are intended to provide most of the protection that workers, and their families, need. 3. In line with the guidance provided by the Governing Body at its 320th Session (March 2014), 2 this year’s recurrent discussion will focus on four policy areas: wage policies; working-time arrangements; occupational safety and health (OSH); and maternity protection. 3 These policy areas were at the heart of the ILO’s founding in 1919. They are central to the employment relationship and are important determinants of the competitiveness and innovativeness of enterprises. Almost a century later, they are more than ever a chief concern of ILO constituents. 4. This recurrent discussion will allow the ILO’s tripartite constituents to review the evolving realities and needs of Members as regards labour protection, as well as the related action taken by ILO member States and the Organization in recent years. The discussion is a timely occasion for assessing the relevance and effectiveness of responses, while considering options for the future, bearing in mind the outcomes of the recurrent 1 ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair