Decent Work New Zealand
What is Decent Work?
The International Labour Organisation [external link] (ILO) estimates that there are 12.3 million victims of forced labour throughout the world and 74.4 million children under the age of 14 engaged in hazardous work. Half of the world's workers earn less than two dollars a day, and half the world's population has no welfare protection.
These statistics demonstrate that not everyone in the world has the opportunity for decent work.
Decent work provides:
- opportunities for productive work that 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, to organise and to participate in the decisions that affect their lives
- equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men.
Who is involved?
Decent Work is the primary goal of the ILO, an international organisation that encompasses governments, workers and employers. The ILO promotes social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights.
The Decent Work initiative is fundamental to achieving the ILO's four major objectives:
- Promote and implement standards and rights at work
- Create greater opportunities for women and men to have decent employment and income
- Enhance the coverage and effectiveness of social protection for all people
- Strengthen negotiation, consultation and information exchanges on economic and social policy issues between governments, employers, and workers.
Making Decent Work a reality requires governments to work in partnership with employers and workers.
In New Zealand the Decent Work project is led by the Department of Labour, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, and Business New Zealand working together.
The Department of Labour provides information, services and support covering almost every aspect of work in New Zealand.
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions represents over 300,000 New Zealanders in 37 affiliated unions. Unions affiliated to the Council of Trade Unions cover every job type and industry.
Business New Zealand is New Zealand's largest advocacy group for enterprises. Business New Zealand promotes policies that improve New Zealand's innovation and skill development and international competitiveness, and generate high value goods and services.
New Zealand's Decent Work Vision
Our vision of Decent Work in New Zealand is that all work:
- recognises people's differing needs
- provides satisfying and productive work, adequate income and social protection for individuals
- provides stability for people and their families
- respects peoples' rights
- allows people time for other activities
- gives people a say and an opportunity for involvement.
What are we doing?
Achieving the goal of Decent Work is the result of the activities and programmes of many different organisations. New Zealand's Decent Work project has identified the expected outcomes of many of these activities and found that they all embody the essence of the Decent Work initiative.
These activities include:
- Developing legislation to support workers and employers
- reviewing minimum wages for adults, youths and people in training
- amending employment legislation to provide greater protection for vulnerable workers
- incorporating labour components in free trade agreement negotiations
- Enabling parents and families to combine work and caring
- paid parental leave for employees and self-employed people
- promoting work/life balance
- improving access to early childhood care
- improving access to out-of-school care for school age children
- Increasing the capabilities of people in the workforce
- developing services to help 15-19 year olds get into appropriate education, training or work
- helping new migrants to settle in New Zealand
- Improving the environment for businesses and people to work better
- Strategies and action plans to improve skills, productivity and participation in regions around New Zealand
- Providing information and assistance to small to medium sized businesses on workplace issues
- Improving on-the-job health and safety
- Helping unions and employers establish workplace partnerships
- helping employers and employees to improve workplace productivity
- Participating in international forums on work
- sharing best practice on labour issues with other countries
- hosting international visits to share information on employment issues
- active involvement in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and ratification of ILO conventions
Why are we doing this?
New Zealand is a proud, founding member of the ILO. We want to show our commitment to the ILO's goal of Decent Work by demonstrating the social and economic value of Decent Work in New Zealand.
It's part of our long-standing tradition of international leadership and participation and because we recognise that the global labour market requires consistent and fair standards and opportunities.
The Decent Work initiative has the potential to help many countries improve their economic effectiveness and social well-being. It is central to efforts to reduce poverty, and can contribute to fair, inclusive and sustainable development.
New Zealand is leading the charge to implement Decent Work. We want to demonstrate how the principles of productive work that delivers a fair income in conditions of freedom, equity and security can benefit governments, industry and employees around the world.
All New Zealanders should be proud to be part of an international initiative to make the world a better place for millions of people. We can show the world what Decent Work looks like - and why it is a goal to which all nations should aspire.