G-to-P Exam Workshop
Social Affairs Notes
Updated November 2012
Issues for consideration
o The impact of socio-economic crises on development (See “The Global Social
Crisis, Report on the World Social Situation 2011 – SR/ESA/334)
o Promoting empowerment of people in achieving poverty eradication, social
integration and full employment and decent work for all – priority theme of the
51st session of the Commission for Social Development
o Decent work, employment, youth unemployment
o Mainstreaming of disability into the development agenda
o Ageing, youth and family issues (e.g. the human rights of older persons, youth in
decision-making, family poverty, work-family balance and intergenerational
issues)
o Sustainable development
o Inequality (topic of
Situation)
the 2005 & forthcoming 2013 Report on World Social
o Social economy (cooperatives, microfinance, fair trade movement, community
development)
o International Year of Cooperatives, 2012
o Social protection (including Global Social Floor initiative, universal vs
conditional social protection schemes, conditional cash transfers for poor families,
etc., know examples from different countries)
o Post 2015 development agenda
Answering an essay question relating to employment and its relation to poverty and
social exclusion
INTRODUCTION:
BROAD PICTURE RELATING TO THE QUESTION or WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
(eg. unemployment is a major cause of poverty and social exclusion, in order to fight
poverty and achieve social integration we need to focus on employment or decent work is
vital for social development because its basic tenets are people-centered)
BODY:
CURRENT SITUATION/BASIC FACTS
-
Despite economic growth unemployment is on the rise
200+ million people are unemployed
Youth is especially affected by unemployment
1.4 billion of the working poor earn less than $2 a-day
Developed countries – persistent high rates of unemployment
Developing countries – generating sufficient jobs for their growing labour force,
preponderance of informal sector jobs with no social protection
The assumption that sound macro-economic policy will automatically result in
improved employment situation has been proved wrong
SPECIFIC PROBLEMS + EXAMPLES
-
Employment conditions are getting worse, especially for those with low education
and skills and for youth
Worrisome trends: informalization, casualization, growing insecurity, diminishing
social security benefits, shifting of responsibility from state and private sector to
individuals
SOLUTIONS
-
Decent work, rather than economic growth or even simple job creation should be
at the centre of policy making [Decent work consists of rights at work, equity,
social protection, social dialogue, according to ILO definition: Decent Work
involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income,
security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for
personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their
concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and
equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men]
-
Concrete examples of policy options such as:
promotion of enterprise development, small and medium size enterprises,
cooperatives, micro-enterprises
-
-
training and skills (especially for vulnerable social groups: persons with
disabilities, women, youth)
social protection systems (pensions, health services, child benefits)
institutions for social dialogue (consultations on policy design employees, trade
unions, civil society)
Enabling international environment (fair trade, access to markets, aid, ODA, debt
relief)
CONCLUSION:
-
decent work is a must for poverty eradication and social integration/cohesion
we can see encouraging trends but lots remains to be done
national efforts (policies, implementation of ILO conventions)
international cooperation
UN can help by mainstreaming employment into development strategies,
encouraging best practices, etc.
One should pay attention to the logic flow of arguments/ideas in an essay. Explaining the
relationships among different elements (i.e. answering the ‘why’) is an important aspect
of analytical ability that one should strive to demonstrate in an essay.
Important sources to quote in your essay on employment
Current reports of the Secretary-General on employment
Reference materials:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable
conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights, 1966
States Parties recognized the right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable
conditions of work which ensure fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions and
equal opportunity for men and women.
World Social Summit, 1995
Provided a major conceptual contribution to the promotion of the centrality of
employment in the development and poverty reduction agenda.
The ILO concept of decent work, 1999
Decent work has four strategic objectives: the promotion of rights at work, employment,
social protection and social dialogue. More specifically, decent work presupposes
productive and adequately remunerated work with security in the workplace, social
protection for families, good prospects for personal development, social cohesion,
participation in decision-making and equal opportunity and treatment for men and
women.
World Summit, 2005
Governments committed to make the goals of full and productive employment and decent
work for all, including women and young people, a central objective of their relevant
national and international policies.
Ministerial Declaration of the Economic and Social Council, 2006
Underscored the resolve of Governments to promote full and productive employment and
decent work for all. Subsequently, new target, echoing the above-mentioned
commitments was set under Millennium Development Goal 1 in addition to the youth
employment targets under MDG 8.
The Employment Imperative: Report on the World Social Situation 2007 and other
reports on world social situation
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/rwss/docs/rwss07_fullreport.pdf
Questions?
e-mail Renata at kaczmarska@un.org