Friday, January 09, 2015
Tweet[IWS] ILO: NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT POLICIES: A GUIDE FOR WORKERS' ORGANISATIONS [8 January 2015]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies-----------------Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor--------------------Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
This service is supported, in part, by donations. Please consider making a donation by following the instructions at http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/iws/news-bureau/support.html
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Employment and Labour Market Policies Branch (EMPLAB)
NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT POLICIES: A GUIDE FOR WORKERS' ORGANISATIONS [8 January 2015]
http://www.ilo.org/employment/Whatwedo/Publications/WCMS_334890/lang--en/index.htm
Please note that this guide is available by its individual parts listed below. Click on each part separately as needed.
About this guide
[full-text, 2 pages]
What is a national employment policy?
[full-text, 27 pages]
Part 1 explains what national employment policies are and looks at the current context that has brought employment back on top of national and international agendas. It explains how the ILO developed its approach to effective engagement in the policy process.
What has to be in place for trade unions to successfully take part in national employment policy?
[full-text, 18 pages]
Part 2 talks about what it means for trade unions to have this new role as a key stakeholder. It describes the social structures and conditions for dialogue that need to be in place in a country for trade unions to successfully contribute to a national employment policy.
The role of trade unions in the policy cycle.
[full-text, 67 pages]
Part 3 is a detailed, stage-by-stage description of the national employment policy-making process. There are seven stages: preparation, issue identification, formulation, adoption, action planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluating. Trade unions need to strengthen their ability to participate in all stages of the policy cycle. Part 3 provides some practical suggestions on how to handle the most challenging aspects of employment policy development. It details the possible ways that trade unions can engage at each of the stages.
Gathering and analysing labour market data.
[full-text, 34 pages]
Part 4 introduces the basics of collecting and analysing labour market data – essential skills for trade unions that want to be credible and informed stakeholders. It explains where to find good data and when trade unions might want to collect it themselves. It explains labour force concepts and the indicators we use to measure them. Trade unions need to be able to interpret employment numbers so that they can make policy arguments and monitor policy results.
How do macroeconomic and sectoral policies affect employment?
[full-text, 32 pages]
Part 5 arms trade unionists with the main elements of debate around economic policy. The choice of public policies is influenced by theory and analysis. We look at macroeconomics, the study of the economy as a whole, and how policies at this level can influence the creation of decent jobs. We explain and look at the impact of monetary policy, exchange rate policy, and fiscal policy. We discuss why and how it is important for trade unions to influence these macroeconomic policies, as well as policies in particular sectors.
Policy responses to the informal economy.
[full-text, 27 pages]
Part 6 talks about the informal economy – that area of the labour market that is largely unregulated, where workers are unprotected and often exploited. Trade unions should be equipped and ready to engage in discussions about national policy responses to the informal economy. These policy responses should be embedded in every social and economic policy. We also talk about the ways that organized trade unions in many countries are helping informal workers to bring their voices to the table.
Labour institutions, social protection and employment.
[full-text, 33 pages]
Part 7 discusses the role of labour institutions – the rules, practices and policies that affect how the labour market works. We focus on two important labour market institutions – employment protection legislation and minimum wages. We look at the theoretical arguments for and against them and at what the research says. We also look at the linkages between employment and social protection systems, such as social security, pension plans and unemployment benefits. Our key message is that national employment policies and social protection systems have to be closely linked. Trade unions need to be able to argue for these connections in policy design in order to frame solutions grounded in long-term, sustainable, employment-centred growth.
Some key terms and what they mean.
[full-text, 12 pages]
Part 8 is a glossary or list of key words that we use in this guide, with reminders about what they mean. These words appear in blue the first time you see them.
________________________________________________________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
