The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the eighth of which is "decent work and economic growth", namely: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all. 

Under this major goal, there are twelve targets, the eighth of which is "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".

● Current Situation

About the World

Creating Decent Work Opportunities for Global Sustainable Development

Roughly half the world’s population still lives on the equivalent of about US$2 a day. And in too many places, having a job doesn’t guarantee the ability to escape from poverty. A continued lack of decent work opportunities, insufficient investments and under-consumption lead to an erosion of the basic social contract underlying democratic societies: that all must share in progress.

Putting job creation at the heart of economic policy-making and development plans, will not only generate decent work opportunities but also more robust, inclusive and poverty-reducing growth. It is a virtuous circle that is as good for the economy as it is for people and one that drives sustainable development.

Work-related diseases and injuries caused by exposure to 19 occupational risk factors were responsible for the deaths of 1.9 million people in 2016, according to the first joint estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO). In relation to non-fatal occupational accidents, ILO estimates reveal over 360 million cases in 2016, representing an increase when compared to the figures of 2010 (340 million). More than four per cent of the world’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) is lost as a consequence of work-related injuries and diseases.

Text and photo source: ilo.org

About China

Protect Workers’ Rights and Interests in New Employment

Photo source: sohu.com

With the rapid development of platform economy, new employment forms have become an important channel for Chinese workers to increase their employment and income. According to the data, as of March 2021, there were about 78 million new workers relying on the Internet platform. Due to the relatively flexible employment forms and employment methods of platform, it is difficult for a large number of internet platform workers to directly confirm their labor relations with employers ans secure their rights and interests protected by labor law. To solve this issue, Chinese government recently issued the Guiding Opinions on Protecting Workers’ Rights and Interests in New Forms of Employment to comprehensively promote the development of platform economy and to create better conditions for flexible employment.

Text source: people.cn

●  Cases

About the World

ILO Adopted Code of Practice on Safety and Health

Occupational health and safety is a priority for the employers across the world. Experts from governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations have adopted a code of practice on safety and health in textiles, clothing, leather and footwear – the first for these industries. 

Based on international labour standards and other sectoral guidelines, the code provides comprehensive and practical advice on how to eliminate, reduce and control all major hazards and risks. This includes chemical substances, ergonomic and physical hazards, tools, machines and equipment, as well as building and fire safety.

More than 60 million workers around the globe will benefit from the new code, which will be of particular importance to developing countries and emerging economies.

Text and photo source: ilo.org

Finland Advocates Healthy and Sustainable Work

As the population ages and baby boomers begin to retire, the health and well-being of employees in the Finnish workplace has also attracted more and more attention. In Finland, the costs of dealing with and paying for occupational health and incapacity are borne by many parties. Big companies shall provide employees with occupational health services while governmental social insurance bureaus are responsible for allowances and benefits under general social security. Companies pay for pension on its own pension fund or one of several pension insurance companies. Every resident living in Finland has local health services.

Photo source: sohu.com

In addition, Finnish companies support sports and leisure activities to prevent health problems and strengthen fitness, and encourage supervisors to intervene in poisoning or mental health problems, such as helping employees find appropriate treatment and rehabilitation methods. Those employees who are unable to take their previous jobs due to physical decline or injury will receive help to find other more suitable jobs.

Text source: finland.fi

About China

Huawei Built Employee Health and Safety Assurance System

Photo source: baidu.com

Huawei pursues its policy of "safety first and care for employees", to ensures every employee’s health and safety, provide employees with a humanized working environment, create an efficient and relaxed working atmosphere and improve employees' happiness. Huawei attaches great importance to the health and safety management, vigorously carries out safety management practices in the fields of safety management system, production safety and delivery safety. In 2020, Huawei invested RMB 11.89 billion in global employee security and established a perfect employee health and safety security system.

Text source: huawei.com

Shenzhen Seeking New Ways to Protect Employees in E-platform 

Rapid development of internet platform economy has brought improvement of labor efficiency. The emerging economy represented by new industries, new formats and new business models (hereinafter referred to as the "three new") is booming and has become an important way for flexible employment and economic transformation and upgrading. 

Photo source: ifeng.com

Recently, Shenzhen CPPCC, Shenzhen Federation of Trade Unions and Shenzhen Human Resources and Social Security Bureau jointly discussed the labor rights and interests protection for employees in the "three new" field. The Guiding Opinions on Standardizing Rights and Interests of Employees on the Internet Platform (Draft for approval) drafted by Shenzhen human resources and Social Security Bureau includes three concerns: First, break the binding relationship between identification of labor relations and the protection of labor rights and interests, and thoroughly protect basic rights and interests of employees on the platform, such as remuneration, working hours, occupational safety and health, social insurance and so on; Second, solve the problem that it is difficult to collect the information of platform employees, encourage enterprises in the "three new" field to provide employee information and give subsidies according to the number of registered employees; Third, commerce, market supervision and other departments urge enterprises in the "three new" field to establish and improve transaction rules and service agreements, and clarify the contents related to the protection of employees' rights and interests.

Text source: workercn.cn

●  Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Initiated by the United Nations

On 1 January, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.