Labour shortages – turning away from bad jobs

Policy recommendations

Rising labour shortages reflect structural shifts, including the digital and green transitions, as well as a cyclical component in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The policy debate tends to focus on the need for skills and, where they are deemed to be missing, on bringing in those skills through immigration and mobility. Most discussions ignore the role of job quality, even though labour shortages have increased most and are worst in jobs with lower wages and worse conditions.
Tight labour markets can provide workers with opportunities, to some extent making up for the slow erosion of workers’ bargaining power over time. Indeed, this can lead to higher wages, better conditions and higher equality of wages overall.
It is now necessary to support workers and sectors in improving conditions. This can be done by embracing higher minimum standards on wages and quality of work. This aspect should not be neglected.

Labour shortages – turning away from bad jobs - European Economic, Employment and Social Policy, 2023 DOWNLOAD

The Prevalence of Domestic Servitude among Child Domestic Workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Research Findings

News & AnalysisPublications

It is estimated that there are 17.2 million child domestic workers globally, most of whom are girls (International Labor Organization (ILO), 2013; ILO, n.d.). Despite their large numbers, research related to this marginalised group is extremely limi...Read More

TAGS: Recruitment Sourcing or Production Domestic Work/ Servitude Africa

Forced Labour Risk in Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program: Exploration of Indicators among Chinese Trainees Seeking Remedy

Publications

A TITP trainee on a construction site was asked to be a scaffolder without safety training, suffered serious injury and was forced to continue working through his recovery. A trainee at a waste recycling plant was assigned work using dangerous equipm...Read More

TAGS: Asia

ICAT calls for stronger action and cooperation to counter human trafficking in humanitarian crises and conflicts

Publications

The world is currently experiencing multiple crises with serious humanitarian consequences. Armed conflicts, terrorism, climate change-induced disasters, the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies, as well as rising economic and fo...Read More

TAGS:

Supply Chain Risk Report: Child and forced labour in Canadian consumer products

Publications

The report looks at Canada’s connection to the issues of human trafficking and forced and child labour, by cross-referencing recent data on Canadian imports with the U.S. Department of Labour’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labour or Forced Lab...Read More

TAGS: Sourcing or Production Food & Beverage - Processing & Packaging Garments & Textiles Extractives & Mining Information and Communications Technology North America