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

Hungary – Country Overview

Publications

Desk review of existing information on the sexual exploitation of children (SEC) in Hungary, Central Europe. The overview gathers existing publicly available information on sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (SECTT), online child ...Read More

TAGS: Due Diligence Tourism, Hospitality & Recreational Services Information and Communications Technology Europe

The Degradation of Work: The True Cost of the Shrimp

Publications

As in any modern industry, technology has revolutionized the production and distribution of seafood. Today, highly perishable products, once caught solely in the wild, can be farmed, processed, packed, and shipped to destinations worldwide in a matt...Read More

TAGS: Sourcing or Production Aquaculture & Fishing Food & Beverage - Processing & Packaging Asia

Still in Harm’s Way

Publications

Following the ground-breaking 2016 report Heading Back to Harm, leading charities ECPAT UK and Missing People have revisited the issue using 2017 data to assess what has changed. Still in Harm's Way: An update report on trafficked and unaccompanied ...Read More

TAGS: Europe

Power, Impunity and Anonymity – Understanding the Forces Driving the Demand for Sexual Exploitation of Children, ECPAT International, Bangkok

GuidancePublications

This paper has been produced in an effort to move beyond an oversimplified view of the problem and propose a comprehensive and multi-pronged, preventive strategy aimed at disabling predators and deflating demand. More specifically, the document is i...Read More

TAGS: Due Diligence Global