Exploring the concepts of decent work through the lens of SDG 8: addressing challenges and inadequacies.

The concept of decent work has few explanatory references and comparative descriptions due to limited research. So far, the concept of decent work only refers to standards and concepts issued by the International Labor Organization (ILO). Meanwhile, the Local Economic Development (LED) approach is an alternative strategy that prioritizes local aspects and resources for effective development. The research method chosen in this research is the phenomenological method. The phenomenological method explores human experiences (people’s lived experiences). This is in line with the concept of decent work and local economic development, which is highly influenced by the opinions and narratives described by the community, in this case, the research participants. This research explains the concept of decent work and local economic development based on the conditions of Banjarmasin City. It generated five explanatory clusters in this research. Cluster of general perspectives and specific perspectives related to the concept of decent work. The general perspective is that decent work should meet minimum standards and protect workers’ rights. While a specific perspective emphasizes subjectivity in viewing various decent work concepts. The other three clusters were formed from the exploration of the concept of local economic development, such as the challenge cluster, the opportunity cluster, and the relationship cluster between the concept of local economic development and decent work. These three clusters emphasize that the development concept requires comprehensive planning. Development faces challenges, such as insufficient government support, uncooperative communities, and disinterest among local people, but there are opportunities to boost local economies and improve work decency and conditions.

Exploring the development trajectory of decent work literature: An empowerment perspective

SDG 8 calls for promoting ‘sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all’. Even as it highlights the importance of labour rights for all, it also makes visible some significant tensions. We note, for example, that despite many critiques of narrow economic measures of growth, the focus here remains on GDP and per capita growth. This is problematic, we argue, because the GDP productive boundary excludes much of social reproductive work. This puts SDG8 in tension with SDG 5 which calls for the recognition of the value of unpaid care and domestic work. There has been a significant increase in the rate of working women in the formal and informal sector. However, there has not been a subsequent gender shift in the doing of social reproductive work. In this paper we argue SDG 8’s focus on decent work and economic growth is inadequate; that productive employment and decent work for all men and women by 2030 needs to take into account the value and costs of social reproduction. We trace key historical debates on work to argue that both gender and labour rights have to underpin SDG 8 if its promise of inclusive, sustainable and decent work is to be realized.

ABSTRACTThis article examines SDG 8 ‘Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all’. It critically examines the goal from two perspectives, the business approach advocated by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the human right to full employment and decent work advocated by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and human rights NGOs. While full employment and decent work are indeed prominent in SDG 8, the 2030 Agenda embraces market-centred institutional arrangements that may present obstacles to achieving the goal. Specifically, grafting the human rights to full employment and decent work onto a business-oriented economic growth agenda in SDG 8 calls into question whether the 2030 Agenda enshrines full employment and decent work as human rights obligations of states or merely as benefits of economic growth. The article concludes that the ambiguity in SDG 8 presents both opportunities for human rights monitoring and accountability but also enhanced legitimacy for the business approach.

In 2015, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards 2030 were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Goal 8 of this agenda addresses the issues of ‘Economic Growth’ and ‘Decent Work’ under the banner of ‘Sustainable Development.’ The goal is aspirational; it aims to uphold sustainable development through “sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all” (UNGA, Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development, 2015, p. 14). This goal is, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), a key to sustainable development as it is a critical driver of multiple other goals in SDGs (ILO, Decent work and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, 2017).

The Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) call for an end to all poverty and marked improvements in health for all. The linkages of health to poverty reduction and to long-term economic growth have been shown to be much stronger than has been generally understood. The WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health elucidated the close connexions between conditions of poverty and maladies which include several non-communicable diseases (NCDs), associated with these conditions. Strong evidence links poverty, poor employment and working conditions (exposure to occupational risks), lack of education, and other social determinants to NCDs, creating a vicious cycle, whereby worsen poverty through their impact, while poverty results in rising rates of such diseases. At the same time, because of the magnitude of illness, disabilities and premature deaths they cause and the long-term care required, they reduce productivity and increase healthcare costs, thereby weakening national economic development. Decent work is now at the forefront of the new sustainable development agenda, which for the first time explicitly refers to full and productive employment and decent work for all as a means of achieving sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth (SDG 8), and include goals relating to protecting labour rights and promoting safe and secure working environments of all workers, including migrant workers, women workers, and those in precarious employment. The SDGs also include a number of additional targets and goals, which have implications for health safety and wellbeing (e.g. SDG3, 4, 5, 10 and 12). The SGDs recognise that inclusive and sustainable economic growth is not only linked to the number of economically active people and economic output, but also to the conditions in which they work. However, much still needs to be done to improve working conditions and promote decent work and, consequently, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Analysis of energy consumption structure on CO[formula omitted] emission and economic sustainable growth

This research paper investigates the role of decent work in promoting sustainable economic growth in Tanzania within the Singida Municipality. Stranded in the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8, which emphasizes inclusive and productive employment, the study highlights the multifaceted relationship between decent work and broader economic objectives. This research was guided by Decent Work and Human Capital Theories. The study involved a longitudinal research design. The targeted population was 300 government employees from Singida Municipal; however, only 20 participants were picked through purposive sampling to provide in-depth information about their perception of the level of decent work in Tanzania. Interviews were used to capture ideas and views from respondents and then analyzed qualitatively through a thematic approach. The study adopts qualitative methods and comprehensive interviews of 20 participants from the targeted population. It was found that, along with a few improvements in decent work, there are significant challenges in terms of regulatory enforcement and poor attitudes of top-level managers towards decent work. Respondents reported a promising impact of decent work on local economic growth; however, they stated that bad cultural practices, lack of exposure among employees, poor implementation of government policies, and labor standards block efforts towards attaining decent work. The study calls for effective strategies for enhancing the quality of work along with economic growth through training programs and public awareness events for promoting understanding and commitment to decent work standards.

This study investigates the relationship between sustainable economic growth and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Saudi Arabia from 1980 to 2023. The ARDL approach and VECM technique are employed to analyze the short-run and long-run dynamics. The short-run results show mixed effects. Sustainable economic growth has a positive impact on current and one-period lagged FDI but a negative impact on the two periods lagged. Trade openness and infrastructure negatively affect FDI in the short run. Interestingly, oil rents and real economic growth also have negative short-run impacts on FDI, but these effects become positive with a longer lag. Long-run analysis reveals a negative relationship between trade openness, infrastructure, and oil rents with FDI, suggesting a potential crowding-out effect. Trade openness has a positive long-run impact on most variables, including sustainable growth, FDI, real growth, and CO2 emissions. Oil rents also have a positive long-run impact on these variables. This study finds six bidirectional causal relationships in the short run, primarily between trade openness, infrastructure, oil rents, and FDI. Unidirectional causality runs from oil rents, trade openness, exchange rate, sustainable growth, and real growth to FDI and infrastructure. Additionally, CO2 emissions cause FDI, and trade openness causes sustainable growth. While sustainable economic growth benefits FDI in the long run, short-term policies regarding trade openness and infrastructure require reevaluation. Oil revenue and real economic growth may initially deter FDI, but this reverses in the long term. To attract sustainable FDI, policymakers should focus on long-term economic growth strategies and consider reforms in trade and infrastructure policies. A comprehensive FDI strategy that moves beyond oil dependence and leverages trade openness is crucial to long-term economic diversification.

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG-8) emphasizes the promotion of inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. At the core of this objective is the recognition that human capital-physical and cognitive abilities-is a critical driver of economic performance. Nutrition plays a fundamental role in shaping human capital and by extension, influences economic productivity, employment outcomes, and societal well-being (Osabohien, 2024;Osabohien & Matthew, 2024). The special issue, "Nutrition and Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth," brings together research that illustrates the intricate connections between nutrition and the ability of individuals and communities to participate in and benefit from economic activities.This editorial aims to reflect on the key contributions made in this issue, demonstrating how nutrition not only influences individual health and well-being but also underpins economic performance and decent work. Through a synthesis of the five published articles, this editorial explores the common themes, challenges, and opportunities presented by the research in this issue.The articles published in this special issue investigate the relationship between nutrition and economic growth through various lenses, ranging from childhood stunting and maternal employment to dietary patterns among healthcare professionals. Each study contributes to a broader understanding of how nutrition shapes human capabilities and productivity in different socio-economic contexts. 2024) (https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1336568) explore how maternal socioeconomic status determines the consumption of animal-source foods among children in East African countries. The study's multilevel mixed effects model reveals that children from higher socio-economic backgrounds consume more nutrient-dense foods, a disparity that exacerbates inequality in health and future economic potential. This underscores the importance of addressing socio-economic barriers to ensure equitable access to nutrition, particularly in early childhood.The studies in this special issue collectively point to several critical themes at the intersection of nutrition, employment, and economic growth:Employment and Nutritional Outcomes: Tekeba et al. ( 2023)'s work emphasizes how employment status, particularly for women, plays a vital role in the nutritional well-being of families. This highlights the need for policies that not only promote maternal employment but also provide support systems-such as childcare and nutrition programs-to ensure that employment translates into improved nutritional outcomes for children. 2023) explore how workplace conditions, including job stress and shift work, influence dietary patterns and, by extension, productivity. These studies demonstrate that nutrition is not only a matter of personal health but also a strategic asset for enhancing workplace performance. Employers, therefore, have a stake in ensuring that workers have access to nutritious meals, especially in high-stress and irregular working conditions. Status and Nutritional Inequality: Abdulahi et al. (2023)'s findings bring to light the enduring disparities in nutrition based on socio-economic status. Access to nutrient-rich, animal-source foods remains a privilege of the wealthy, with long-term implications for child development and future workforce capabilities. Tackling these inequalities is essential for creating a more inclusive economic growth model where all children have the nutritional foundation to succeed. Equity: Dohms et al. (2024) suggest that improving food quality in workplaces can have a direct impact on workers' health and economic output. By focusing on nutritional interventions within workplace food services, employers can play a role in bridging the nutritional gap for lower-income workers who might otherwise lack access to healthy meals.While the research presented in this issue illuminates the vital role of nutrition in economic growth and employment outcomes, it also highlights several challenges. Socio-economic disparities continue to undermine efforts to ensure equitable access to nutrition, particularly in lower-income countries. The studies also indicate that workplace environments, especially for those in highstress or low-income jobs, do not always provide the nutritional support needed to maintain productivity and well-being.Furthermore, the findings also point to significant opportunities. Policymakers can leverage these insights to design interventions that target vulnerable populations, such as children in low-income households and workers in stressful or irregular occupations. Workplace nutrition programs, child nutrition initiatives, and efforts to improve access to animal-source foods are all critical interventions that can promote both decent work and sustained economic growth.This special issue highlights the multifaceted relationship between nutrition, decent work and economic growth. From childhood stunting to the dietary challenges faced by healthcare workers and shift workers, the research emphasizes that nutrition is a key determinant of both individual well-being and economic productivity. Achieving SDG-8 requires a holistic approach that integrates nutrition into strategies for promoting decent work and economic growth.Looking forward, future research should continue to explore how nutrition can be harnessed as a tool for promoting inclusive economic development. Interdisciplinary collaboration between economists, nutritionists and public health experts will be essential for identifying and implementing effective interventions. By ensuring that nutrition is prioritized in policies aimed at fostering economic growth, we can make meaningful progress toward achieving both SDG 8 and broader sustainable development goals.

The study has made an effort to analyze the performance of Bangladesh economy in line with the decent work and inclusive economic growth target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the period of 2015 to 2019 and to identify the challenges of achieving decent work for all by 2030. Bangladesh has ranked 109 th among the 166 countries and moved seven notches up from 116 th of 2019 in the SDGs Index 2020. Analyzing the International Labour Organization (ILO) modeled estimated data on the decent work indicators like labour force participation rate, employment to population ratio, unemployment rate, youth unemployment, informal employment, child labour and employment in agriculture, industry and service sector, the study reveals that the high youth unemployment, informality in the job market, mismatch between demand and supply of skilled labour, less female participation in the labour force, insufficient investment, participation of child and forced labour in hazardous work, etc. are the major hindrance for ensuring decent work for all. Skill development programs, large scale investment, products diversification, good governance, elimination of child and forced labour from hazardous work, etc. may help to create more employment opportunities, decent work environment as well as inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Bangladesh. Keywords: Decent Work, Inclusive Economic Growth, SDGs, Bangladesh. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-16-02 Publication date: August 31 st 2020

Topics model of overwork-related deaths in Korea and the implications of SDGs’ decent work perspective

These concluding remarks are divided into two sections and comprise both an overview of European policies on decent and sustainable work and a bird’s eye's view of the development of Swedish working life research in a European context. The concept of sustainable work has over the years encountered difficulties of being included in the Social Sustainability family. The launching of SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth with its focus on inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all has given sustainable work a new and stronger position as a vision for good work. The launching of the consultation of European Pillar of Social Rights in 2017 highlights the importance of future of work and welfare systems in Europe. The role of the social dialogue for sustainable and greener jobs are crucial in a future perspective. Sustainable welfare, social protection and social equality are prerequisites for decent and sustainable work. Working life research in Sweden has over the years interacted in various manners with the European policy and research communities. The Swedish National Institute for Working Life, abolished in 2006/07 created several European encounters, early in the new millennium, and the idea of sustainable work did have Swedish roots. Horizon Europe, current research on the Nordic labour market model and various European platforms and networks opens new windows for the social dialogue on the future European workplace. This policy discussion is urgently needed in times of Covid-19, digitalisation, and the Green Deal and pave the way for new European research programmes.

This study investigated the impact of the people category of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on sustainable and conventional economic growth in Asia and the Pacific region, using a sample of 52 selected countries between 2000 and 2023. Employing two distinct models, model A1 for conventional economic growth and model A2 for sustainable economic growth, we explained the relationships between five SDG indicators: employed poverty rate, stunted children, expenditure on health, expenditure of education, and % of women MNAs on economic growth. This study employed a fixed-effect model and random-effect model to investigate the impact of the people category SDGs on traditional and sustainable economic growth. The comparative analysis of each SDG in both models revealed valuable insights. SDG 1, “employed poverty rate”, has a positive impact on economic growth in both models, while SDG 2, “percentage of stunted child”, did not significantly influence economic growth in either model. Moreover, SDG 3 and SDG 4, relating to “government’s health expenditure per capita” and “government’s Education education expenditure per capita”, respectively, exhibited a positive impact on traditional and sustainable economic growth. Conversely, SDG 5, “percentage of women members of national parliament”, displayed an insignificant impact on traditional and sustainable economic growth models. In conclusion, this study suggests that policymakers should prioritize targeted interventions to alleviate employed poverty, enhance healthcare, and boost education spending. Moreover, promoting women’s representation in national parliaments should be approached with context-specific strategies to maximize its impact on economic growth.

In October 2024, Hult et al. published the article ‘Decent and Precarious Work Among Nursing and Care Workers: A Mixed-Method Systematic Review’ in Journal of Advanced Nursing. The article critically examines the impact of decent and precarious work on nursing outcomes. We acknowledge the value of their contributions and appreciate the authors' efforts in broadening our understanding of employment quality in healthcare. However, we believe that recent studies on related themes offer additional perspectives that may enhance the discourse initiated by Hult et al. Here, we draw on three of our previously published studies to extend their findings. Our study, titled ‘Decent Work and Ethical Ideologies of Nurses: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study’, highlighted how decent work influences nurses' ethical ideologies, such as idealism and relativism (Zoromba et al. 2024). Similar to Hult et al.'s findings, we found that decent work fosters favourable workplace behaviours, particularly adherence to ethical standards. However, our study emphasises that key components such as organisational values and interpersonal safety are not only essential for well-being but also promote ethical ideologies. This underscores that fostering decent work conditions benefits both the emotional and ethical dimensions of healthcare work. Our second study, ‘How Decent Work Influences Internal Whistleblowing Intentions: The Mediating Roles of Felt Obligation and Organizational Identification’, examined how decent work promotes proactive behaviours like whistleblowing (El-Gazar and Zoromba 2024). While Hult et al. primarily focus on employee retention and well-being, our research suggests that decent work can also catalyse moral actions by strengthening organisational identification. Specifically, our findings demonstrate that felt obligation and identification mediate the relationship between decent work and whistleblowing intentions, providing a framework to explore other ethical behaviours cultivated by decent work conditions. In ‘The Role of Psychological Ownership in Linking Decent Work to Nurses' Vigor at Work: A Two-Wave Study’, we explored how psychological ownership mediates the effect of decent work on vigour (El-Gazar et al. 2024). While Hult et al. emphasise the mental health benefits of decent work, we propose that vigour offers a complementary lens for understanding employee engagement. Our findings suggest that decent work not only reduces stress but also fosters an environment where nurses feel ownership of their roles, leading to sustained energy and job satisfaction. The nuanced inclusion of psychological ownership deepens the understanding of how decent work translates into high job performance (International Labour Organization, 2019). While Hult et al.'s systematic review provides a comprehensive overview, highlighting the significance of sustainable employment policies in mitigating precarious work conditions, our findings highlight the need to explore additional dimensions, such as ethical ideologies, whistleblowing and psychological ownership, within the context of decent work. Our research suggests that the concept of decent work extends beyond job satisfaction to encompass critical moral and behavioural outcomes. This recent approach of nursing research stressing investing in leadership programs to foster organisational identification and ethical behaviours, including whistleblowing, encouraging psychological ownership through strategies that enhance nurses' autonomy and engagement. To further enrich this discourse, we recommend that future studies adopt longitudinal approaches, as employed in our two-wave design, to capture temporal changes in work conditions and behaviours. Additionally, interventions aimed at enhancing organisational values and psychological ownership could amplify the benefits of decent work. Conclusion: We commend Hult et al. for their valuable contribution to nursing research. Our studies complement their findings by offering insights into the behavioural and psychological outcomes associated with decent work. We hope that our discussion encourages further research and informs practical interventions aimed at enhancing working conditions in healthcare. M.A.Z. and H.E.E. planned the letter and made substantial contributions to conception and design. M.A.Z., S.A.A. and H.E.E. were major contributors in writing and drafting the manuscript. H.E.E. and M.A.Z. were major contributors in writing the letter. All authors given final approval of the version to be published and Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. The authors have nothing to report. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Data sharing is not applicable to this article, as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.