Poverty, employment and inequality in the SDGs: heterodox discourse, orthodox policies?

This article explains the underlying propositions, approaches and perspectives which this volume adopts in examining implementation of fundamental labour rights in the particular cultural context of the Chinese experience. It is, however, emphasized that fundamental labour rights is a deeply European-rooted concept, and when applied to China its parochialism may not do justice to the diversity of labour law development in China and to the role that the international labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) have played in this development. The concept of fundamental labour rights enables an examination of the Chinese labour law issue from different angles with a comparative perspective. This comparative undertaking is based on the assumption that the concept of fundamental labour rights could be approached and appropriated by various actors in different contexts. The broad perspective of implementation covers legislative implementation by national and local legislatures, monitoring by labour inspectorates, judicial implementation by labour arbitration committees and courts as well as application of fundamental labour rights by enterprises and other non-state actors. Recognition of fundamental labour rights can be found at different layers of legal normativity and connected in a hybrid structure so that interaction, dialogue and mutual enforcement among different layers also provide a valuable research subject. Examining fundamental labour rights is important as these rights have the potential, inter alia, to contribute to systematizing and developing the Chinese labour law system. Focusing on them can help identify the most persistent labour market problems and better understand underlying economic and social factors.

The economic crisis that shook the world in 2008 has affected the social and economic status of many State’s and business subjects as well as separate persons. All countries that faced the economic downturn took various actions related to economic, legal and social measures, which aimed to promote labour market and reduce the negative effects of the crisis. All these measures in one way or another determined the social, economic and legal situation of employees, especially of unemployed persons.This article aims to analyse and evaluate the consequences of legal decisions made during the economic crisis and threats caused by them in the context of the right to decent work. It starts by defining the concept of decent work as well as its peculiarities of legal regulation in the context of international labour law and doctrine. This is followed by the analysis of measures, related to employment rights, which were taken to tackle causes of the economic downturn in Lithuania, and their legal doctrinal assessment.The economic crisis that shook European and world markets in 2008 at once revealed threats to the social and economic safety of employees. The international community responded immediately to the situation by calling countries to take anti-crisis measures, in a way that the principle of decent work will be led and the minimum of fundamental labour and social rights that are in content with such principle will be ensured.In order to tackle causes of the economic crisis as well as trying to prevent even greater its impact, during the period of 2008–2012 the Lithuanian government took many measures to liberalise employment relations. However, no crucial and radical decisions were made, so labour market took the so-called self-regulation. In Lithuania during the crisis negative atmosphere both in moral and economic sense as well as the measures taken by employee and the position of the government, created preconditions to talk about fundamental labour right violations, therefore, it means the disregard of the principle of decent work.

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.

336This paper deals with the problem of European companies trading with companies in developing countries where fundamental labour rights are being violated. For a long time, this issue was left to the responsibility of European companies on a voluntary basis. Recently, a shift towards hard law in the sense of legal obligations has become visible. The European Commission started a legislative process in 2021 and published a proposal for a due diligence Directive in February 2022 to which the European Parliament responded in first reading on 1 June 2023. In the meanwhile, France and Germany passed legislation, and in the Netherlands and Belgium a private member’s bill was submitted by members of Parliament. All in all, a lot is happening on this subject at both European and national level. Much has been written about the proposals as such but the issue of fundamental labour rights has been underexposed. This paper fills that gap. Central question is as to what extent legislation will lead to an improvement in compliance with fundamental labour rights in the cross-border supply chain. This paper will explore this question on the basis of the said European and national legislative initiatives. It will become clear that the solution lies much more in a mix of hard law and self-regulation and that in the search for a smart mix, lessons can be learned from the Dutch system of private sector-specific agreements.337

The spread of non-standard forms of employment in industrialised and developing countries over the last decades has prompted an extensive debate on how to reshape labour regulation to accommodate these new formats. However, limited attention has been devoted to the access of non-standard workers to fundamental labour rights. This chapter aims at reorienting the debate towards these neglected dimensions of labour regulation. In particular, it focuses on the risks affecting work in the so-called ‘gig’ or ‘platform’ economy, since the relative novelty of these forms of work may obscure the difficulties these workers face in enjoying fundamental labour rights. Platform workers, together with casual workers and some self-employed workers not only are more exposed to violations of fundamental rights but are also often excluded from the legal scope of application of these rights, which are sometimes reserved to workers in an employment relationship. This is particularly true for collective labour rights, as self-employed workers, including sham self-employed persons and platform workers, who are often deprived of full access to the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining. This happens, for instance, when their collective activities are found to be in breach of antitrust regulation. This chapter maintains that preventing self-employed workers who do not own a genuine and significant business organisation from bargaining collectively is at odds with the recognition of the right to collective bargaining as a human and a fundamental right. Consequently, it argues that only self-employed individuals who do not provide ‘labour’ but instead provide services using an independent, genuine and significant business organisation that they own and manage can have their right to bargain collectively restricted.

The spread of non-standard forms of employment in industrialised and developing countries over the last decades has prompted an extensive debate on how to reshape labour regulation to accommodate these new formats. However, limited attention has been devoted to the access of non-standard workers to fundamental labour rights. This chapter aims at reorienting the debate towards these neglected dimensions of labour regulation. In particular, it focuses on the risks affecting work in the so-called ‘gig’ or ‘platform’ economy, since the relative novelty of these forms of work may obscure the difficulties these workers face in enjoying fundamental labour rights. Platform workers, together with casual workers and some self-employed workers not only are more exposed to violations of fundamental rights but are also often excluded from the legal scope of application of these rights, which are sometimes reserved to workers in an employment relationship. This is particularly true for collective labour rights, as self-employed workers, including sham self-employed persons and platform workers, who are often deprived of full access to the rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining. This happens, for instance, when their collective activities are found to be in breach of antitrust regulation. This chapter maintains that preventing self-employed workers who do not own a genuine and significant business organisation from bargaining collectively is at odds with the recognition of the right to collective bargaining as a human and a fundamental right. Consequently, it argues that only self-employed individuals who do not provide ‘labour’ but instead provide services using an independent, genuine and significant business organisation that they own and manage can have their right to bargain collectively restricted.

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.

ABSTRACTThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN) are a global agenda to achieve sustainable development until 2030. Focusing on Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, which has adopted SDGs in the Regional Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD), this research aims to identify the Lok Baintan Floating Market, as a leading tourist destination in South Kalimantan, in efforts to achieve sustainable tourism, especially SDGs goal 8, decent work and economic growth, and identifying the obstacle and challenges faced. The research method uses a descriptive qualitative approach with data collection involving interviews, observations, and literature studies, with key informants from local government, Kelompok Sadar Wisata (tourism awareness groups), local communities, and private parties involved. The research results show that although Lok Baintan Floating Market tourism provides decent employment opportunities in accordance with SDGs goal 8, challenges faced, such as the lack of diversification of tourism actors and passive community participation, require further efforts to achieve sustainable tourism development in Lok Baintan. Therefore, developing tourism human resource competencies, diversifying tourism actors, monitoring training results, and opportunities for active community participation are the keys to creating decent work and sustainable economic growth at the Lok Baintan Floating Market.ABSTRAKTujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan (TPB/SDGs) yang ditetapkan oleh Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa (PBB) menjadi agenda global untuk mencapai pembangunan berkelanjutan hingga tahun 2030. Befokus pada Kabupaten Banjar, Kalimantan Selatan, Indonesia, yang telah mengadopsi SDGs dalam Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Daerah, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi Pasar Terapung Lok Baintan, sebagai destinasi wisata unggulan di Kalimantan Selatan, dalam upaya pencapaian pariwisata berkelanjutan khususnya pada SDGs tujuan 8, yaitu pekerjaan layak dan pertumbuhan ekonomi, dan mengidentifikasi hambatan serta tantangan yang dihadapi. Metode penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif deskriptif dengan pengumpulan data melibatkan wawancara, observasi, dan studi literatur, dengan informan kunci dari pemerintah daerah, kelompok sadar wisata, masyarakat lokal, dan pihak swasta yang terlibat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa meskipun pariwisata Pasar Terapung Lok Baintan memberi peluang kerja yang layak sesuai dengan SDGs tujuan 8, tantangan yang dihadapi seperti kurangnya diversifikasi pelaku pariwisata dan partisipasi masyarakat yang masih pasif, memerlukan upaya lebih lanjut untuk mencapai pembangunan pariwisata yang berkelanjutan di Lok Baintan. Oleh karena itu, pengembangan kompetensi SDM pariwisata, diversifikasi pelaku pariwisata, monitoring program pelatihan, dan kesempatan partisipasi aktif masyarakat menjadi kunci dalam menciptakan lapangan kerja yang layak dan pertumbuhan ekonomi yang berkelanjutan di Pasar Terapung Lok Baintan.

Based on their sustainability reports (SR), this study investigates Indonesian stated-owned companies’ compliance with fundamental labour rights and corporate governance (CG). Empirical and content analysis was carried out based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standard index published by 41 state-owned companies from 12 clusters in Indonesia. The study also compared the disclosure performance of several industrial-sector clusters by measuring each cluster’s total compliance rate. This study also analyses whether the high corporate governance disclosure will lead to a high level of fundamental labour rights reports. Using content analysis and multivariate analysis of WarpPLS, this study finds that companies tend to disclose clearly basic requirements on fundamental labour rights, such as information about new hires and employee turnover and essential information on corporate governance structure and composition (Martin et al., 2016; Sikka, 2008). In contrast, companies tend to hide information about reasonable notice of significant operational changes and critical concerns in companies. Based on the industrial sectors, the company in the energy, oil, and gas cluster have the highest level of compliance concerning corporate governance and labour disclosure. Then, this study also discovers that companies with high compliance levels on corporate governance disclosure tend to inform more in labour rights activities.

The <scp>SDGs</scp>: A change agenda shaping the future of business and humanity at large

Sustainable economic growth is a challenge for Indonesia today. The Universitas Sumatera Utara in Strengthening SDGs promotes decent and inclusive employment opportunities, and enhances sustainable economic growth in Indonesia by working with companies, civil society organisations, and governments to create an environment that supports inclusive economic development and provides fair access to employment opportunities. The community service team through the community service institution of the Universitas Sumatera Utara plays an active role in the success of the SDGs by carrying out community service with MSME partner Kilang Tenun Sinaga. The results of the team's observations that Kilang Tenun Sinaga MSMEs have such important problems, namely the difficulty of finding employees with skilled weaving skills that cause a lack of weaving production processes that can be fulfilled when ordered, lack of employees who can increase production results, unable to expand by opening new promotional outlets while promoting production results. The solution presented by the team is to carry out community empowerment through improving weaving skills so that they will get the expected employees. This community service team with partners also through this service aims to continue weaving skills, especially ulos motifs, to become part of the world heritage in the future. From this solution, employees also get decent work and improve the community's economy in accordance with SDGs goal no. 8, namely decent work and economic growth.

This article outlines a research agenda for Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, two fundamental labor rights essential to the achievement of “Decent Work” for workers in global supply chains. The authors argue that SCM scholars are uniquely positioned to address how workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights in global supply chains could be improved. This stems, in part, from the fact that SCM researchers and industry practitioners share a common “logic of efficiency” in the analysis of supply chains. The authors suggest three broad areas of research on freedom of association and collective bargaining, with their attendant methodological implications.

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).

Problem setting. For many years, in Ukraine, as in many other countries, standard labour relations prevailed in the field of labour and employment, characterised by stability and duration, subordination and control of the employee to the employer, as well as the availability of social guarantees for employees. However, socio-economic changes, globalisation, the post-industrial revolution, and the development of information technologies that allow the use of labour, in particular, through digital platforms, have led to the formation and spread of non-standard labour relations characterised by instability and the lack of an adequate level of labour guarantees and working conditions, primarily in the areas of remuneration, working hours and rest periods, occupational safety and health, etc. analysis of recent researches and publications. In their studies, labour scholars have drawn attention to the need to consolidate non-standard forms of employment in Ukraine and to comprehensively reform labour legislation: S.V. Venediktov, S.V. Vyshnovetska, L.P. Garashchenko, V.P. Kokhan, Y.I. Svichkariova, O.G. Sereda, Y.V. Simutina, M.M. Shumylo, A.M.Yushko and others. In recent years, several monographic studies have been published on the problems of reforming and improving labour legislation with due regard to the need to ensure proper protection of social and labour rights in the realities of the digital era. At the same time, little or no attention has been paid to the challenges posed by the spread of such employment to the implementation and protection of fundamental labour rights proclaimed by the International Labour Organization, including freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the effective abolition of child labour; the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation; and a safe and healthy working environment. Purpose of the research is to identify and characterise the challenges and threats of non-standard employment through the prism of basic principles and rights at work that are part of universally recognised human rights. article’s main body. Despite the fact that most of the attention in the world today is probably paid to the issues of access to labour rights and guarantees for so-called gig workers engaged in online platforms, who often face the inability to enjoy these rights, the problems of implementing internationally recognised fundamental labour rights go far beyond platform employment and extend to a much wider area of work that does not fall under the category of standard indefinite full-time employment. For example, in cases of concluding an employment contract with non-fixed working hours, the probability of employees’ “voluntary” refusal to exercise their fundamental rights and respond to possible abuses by the employer is very high and significantly increases the employer’s managerial powers. One of the most acute challenges of the digitalisation of the economy in Ukraine is the development of an adequate mechanism for the exercise by precarious workers, primarily those who work through online platforms, of one of their fundamental rights – the right to associate for the collective protection of their socio-economic interests. conclusions and prospects for the development. The development of the digital economy and the rise of nonstandard employment have led to a broad debate on the scope of labour law, while little attention has been paid to a comprehensive understanding of how these forms of employment affect the enjoyment of fundamental principles and rights at work. Yet, such an understanding is extremely necessary in view of the international community’s recognition of fundamental labour rights as human rights. Non-standard employment, especially when combined with precariousness or precariousness, can make it difficult or even impossible to ensure and implement fundamental ILO principles and rights at work, including freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; effective prohibition of child labour; nondiscrimination in respect of employment and occupation; and a safe and healthy working environment. In view of this, proper enforcement of these rights as human rights requires systemic actions by governments and businesses aimed at both limiting the use of non-standard employment and further improving the mechanisms for the implementation and protection of labour rights regardless of employment status.

Purpose of the study: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 comprising a universally acceptable worldwide development agenda which each country of the world has to achieve till 2030. The purpose of this study is to examine the socio-economic and political transformational challenges confronted to South Asian Countries (SA) i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, in achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Methodology: The study uses different statistics of World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Health Organizations (WHO), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to give a comprehensive picture of South Asian economies and the challenges which they are currently facing for achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In our preliminary analysis, the methodology highlighted the issues of South Asian Countries such as poverty (SDG 1), healthy lives and well-being (SDG 3), inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG 4), sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (SDG 8)". Principal Findings: The statistics presented regarding South Asian economies exhibit a dismal picture. At present, the attainment of these stipulated goals seems impossible and remains elusive if some serious measures have not been taken. The role of DCs and the world community as a whole is significant in this regard. To save the planet from extreme poverty, hunger, malnutrition, equitable access to modern technology, improved education and health for all human beings, the developed countries should give at least one percent of their GNP in the form of development assistance to poor countries. The study suggests that good governance that could undertake and implement structural reforms is necessary to deal with the challenges confronting to South Asian countries in achieving the targets of these stipulated goals. More importantly, the Developed Countries (DCs) started to implement their strategies to view SDGs' targets. Now it is a dire need that DCs should assist the Under Developed Countries (UDCs) and help them from their experience in identifying the transformational challenges which they possibly have to face in achieving SDGs' targets. Otherwise, it looks impossible for the UDCs to come up with these targets till 2030. Applications of this study: The study highlighted some key challenges that South Asian countries face to achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study outcomes can prove very much helpful for South Asian countries for achieving these targets and devising thriving economic policies generous to attaining their targets till 2030. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study gives a brief picture of the current position of the South Asian countries where they stand regard to Sustainable Development Goals' targets. Moreover, the results and policy recommendations presented at the end of the study provides help to deal with the challenges that are big hindrances in achieving the targets of these SDGs.