Today, October 7, is World Day for Decent Work, an initiative led by the International Trade Union Confederation, the Global Progressive Forum, Social Alert and Solidar.   What is “Decent Work”?

“Decent Work is a strategy to achieve sustainable development that is centered on people.  Decent Work is a key element to build fair, equitable and inclusive societies being based around the principles of employment creation, workers’ rights, equity between men and women, social connection and social dialogue.”

The Decent Work Decent Life offers ideas for taking action, as well as a growing list of supporting organizations.  The global campaign reports: Half of the world’s workforce earns less than $2 per day; 12.3 million people work in slavery; 200 million children work instead of going to school; and more than 2 million people die every year due to work-related injuries and diseases.

The campaign’s call for Decent Work includes:

• equal access to employment without discrimination
• a living wage for workers to allow them and their families to live with dignity
• social protection in case of illness, pregnancy or the normal ups and downs of life
• freedom from exploitation
• allowing people to organize themselves to represent their interests collectively through trade unions
• allowing people to engage in genuine dialogue as citizens and workers

And, it reminds us that “Not any job is a good job” because across the globe, there are 1.4 billion people who WORK, but still live on less than $2 per day.  The International Labour Organization calls “Decent Work,” the heart of social progress.

To mark the World Day for Decent Work, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF) announced a campaign to demand a living wage (here) and other groups from around the globe have posted their own messages of support for the Decent Work Decent Life campaign.