In speaking of decent work; the availability of an appropriate environment that embraces the human and appreciates his efforts is one of the simplest conditions that must be provided. And even though we just described it as “simple”, achieving it guarantees high productivity for individuals and improvement for the economy of the countries. And from that, “Decent Work” is considered one of the goals of sustainable development. As this goal guarantees to achieve a productive and sustainable economy in the event that the work carries out the minimum livelihood components for its employees/ owners.
What is decent work?
Decent work is a wide concept that refers to achieving complete and sustainable development, which grants opportunities for everyone and helps many people get rid of poverty. It also refers to the economic growth that provides full and productive employment, with decent work circumstances.
These circumstances include: Achieving career safety and security and equality in circumstances between women and men. And finally, decent work refers to the development that protects the environment and guarantees sustainable exploitation of resources.¹
When is the work considered decent?
According to the standards of the International Labor Organization; The following dimensions measure the level of decent work:
- Availability of job opportunities and sufficient profits: That is by providing appropriate opportunities for all individuals willing and able to work. With enough salary, they can live a decent life. And it is compatible with the price of goods and services needed by the individuals.
- Stability and safety at work: This includes the protection and peace of employment consistent with economic changes, and protection against unfair dismissal. As losing a job is a severe incident for most people.
- Equal opportunities and treatment at work: Decent work must guarantee equal opportunities for men and women without any kind of discrimination in terms of opportunities or treatment. Achieving economic and social justice largely reflects equality. Which leads to tangible and sustainable improvements at work.
- Social protection: This refers to general actions taken in response to levels of vulnerability, risk, and deprivation considered socially unacceptable within a given system or society. These measures include labor market interventions, social safety networks, and pensions.
- Fighting the work that should be abolished: The expression “fighting the work that should be abolished” expresses protection from discrimination, forced labor, and child labor. And that work must be freely chosen without forcing it on the individuals. We must eliminate these practices as agreed in international declarations and labor standards.²
In addition:
- A safe work environment: work cannot be decent unless the work environment is safe and healthy. Therefore, we must emphasize the prevention of work-related injuries and accidents, occupational diseases, and deaths. An effective inspection system is an essential element for promoting decent work and ensuring workers’ rights.
- Decent work time and balance between work, family, and personal life: The case of “work time” has been important to the International Labor Organization since its foundation. In fact, balancing work, family, and personal life is often associated with greatly increased productivity. Contributing to the achievement of this improves the attraction of new employees and maintains the existing employees.
- Social dialogue and representation of employers and workers: It includes all types of negotiation, consultation, and exchange of information between representatives of governments, employers, and workers on issues of common interest with regard to economic and social policies. Which leads to increased productivity and sense of belonging to the workplace, and avoiding conflicts in the workplace.²
What are the challenges?
The lack of decent work opportunities remains a major challenge for emerging and developing economies. Understanding the barriers that obstruct obtaining decent work is of paramount importance in order to be able to address them. There are many reasons for these barriers, which may be:
- The gender gap: in terms of achieving the necessary skills, equal pay, bias, and occupational inequality. As well as discrimination and stereotypes in the workplace.
- The spread of unemployment in the society.
- Weak social security systems and poverty among workers.
- Technological challenges in the labor market, include the development of information and communication technology (ICT), artificial intelligence, and robotics. Which requires the existence of training programs that allow workers to keep pace with this tremendous progress.³
Syrian organizations
Syrian organizations seek to provide decent work, and many Syrian organizations seek to help provide decent and appropriate job opportunities. This allows individuals to work within suitable conditions and environments.
Among these organizations is “Caritas Syria”. This organization provides many services to Syrians, such as providing assistance to the most vulnerable groups so they access the labor market and provide their own work.⁴
To this day, many peoples are still struggling to find jobs that would allow them to reach the minimum necessities of a good life. This is what drives many of them to stick to jobs that do not meet even the most basic human rights and with low wages that are not compatible with the work and expended effort, which creates more disability for them.
Therefore, based on this and the belief of the Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative in the importance of providing decent work and achieving equal access to job opportunities, the initiative offers free training workshops.
It provides learning and training opportunities for everyone remotely and equally, which prepares them to enter the labor market. An example of this is the series of “Freelance” workshops held by the initiative, through which the beneficiaries were introduced to the specializations of self-employment and how to enter this world.
Also read:
References:
- SDG Plus
- Egyptian Journal
- International Labour Organization
- Caritas Syria
