8. Promote strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all

FACTS AND FIGURES:

Global unemployment increased from 170 million in 2007 to nearly 202 million in 2012, of which about 75 million are young women and men.

Nearly 2.2 billion people live below the US$2 poverty line and that poverty eradication is only possible through stable and well-paid jobs.

470 million jobs are needed globally for new entrants to the labour market between 2016 and 2030.

GOAL 8 TARGETS:

Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries

Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors

Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services

Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead

By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value

By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training
Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms
Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment
By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all
Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries
By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization

TASK 1: Solve this learning apps about work:

TASK 2: Add the information about the topic of decent work and economic growth in your country, in a form of text, presentation or a film to this tool Think link:

Task done by Greek students:

The Greek Economy

2017 was a landmark year for the Greek economy, as it ended a multiannual period of economic crisis and recession, bringing it back to the pathway of growth.

More specifically, 2017 is the first year of economic recovery based on healthy sources (exports, investments, reforms and program compliance) that are capable of providing continuity and sustainability to growth.

2018 is also a key year for the Greek economy, since it launches its exit from the Memoranda and the tough guardianship in order to bring in it line with a sustainable, balanced and fair development.

Special project on local economy, after a fieldtrip in a Greek island

On April 26th 2018 the Greek students visited the island of Corfu. There we had a filed trip on a local business exploiting one product that is unique in Corfu, the citrus fruit of Kumquat. We learnt how a region can make use of local resources, and thrive.

Task done by Romanian students:

Romania’s economic policy has been directed at fast growth, driven by low taxes and low wages to promote export competitiveness and investor interest. As the population resisted the cheap labour force status and massively emigrated in search of wages up to seven times higher in the EU15, GDP growth did not bring employment growth. The World Bank have continued to recommend that Romania reduce taxes, make labour legislation more flexible and control wage growth by changing collective bargaining legislation, a continuation of the business-friendly policies of the 2000s. Low government spending on rural education, training and healthcare and the draconic austerity cuts during the recession have impoverished even further the landscape of Romanian villages that offered little economic opportunity to begin with. When economic growth picks up, employers will face the same reality: a large, unskilled labour force eager to migrate in search of better quality employment. Decent Work policies can provide a development path leading to quality employment, through active labour market policies, social protection, rural education, better access to healthcare and better protection of the rights of e mployees. These policies would ensure that Romania’s workforce would acquire the skills that would attract higher value added investment. It would also put Romania on a path to reducing in-work poverty and increasing quality employment. Wage moderation and export competitiveness policies can coexist with Decent Work policies, but the coherence of such a policy mix can only be ensured through social dialogue. In the absence of social dialogue and long-term policies to increase quality employment, the labour pool will continue to decrease as more Romanians look for work abroad, leaving investors otherwise happy with the tax and legislative environment to deal with a dearth of skilled labour.

Task done by Slovak students

Working conditions in Slovakia - There is around 2,310,200 employed workforce in Slovakia. The most people work in industry (25.9%) and construction (11.1%), 7.1% of people work in education, 6.8% in health and only 3.2% in agriculture.

The share of employed women is 50.8% against 64.1% men. Women have in average 25% lower salaries then men. The unemployment rate is 12.7% but long-term unemployment reaches 54%. These are people with low qualification. Emerging is the rate of unemployed young people between 15-24 years old (27%) which reflects insufficient opening positions for graduates.

Normal working week consists of 40 working hours. Extra hours are limited by law to 150, night shifts and work during weekends and bank holidays are paid extra. Negotiations on behalf of the employees with the employer, governmental institutions and other third parties about working conditions, social security and pension conditions are held by working unions. Unfortunately, unions in Slovakia do not have a strong negotiation power.The minimum salary, rights and safety on work place of the employees in Slovakia is set by law. Even though there have been cases that are breaking the rights of the employees. Most common is mobbing, lack of security for the employees, that reveal wrong practices such as unpaid overtime. These issues are being controlled by inspection of work that give sanctions to employers but not all of them are successfully handled.

A task done by Italian students

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