A new report by the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Olivier De Schutter, outlines how employment guarantees could be advanced to mitigate poverty, and advocates for this to become an enforceable right. This report comes at a time of increasing focus on automation and growth, which as noted by the Special Rapporteur does not necessarily result in the creation or maintenance of jobs, but may actually diminish employment prospects. It is also highlighted that while global statistics from the International Labour Organization estimate that 473 million people are seeking employment, the World Bank predicts that an additional 470 million people will be included to this, between 2019 and 2035.
Employment paradox
The report conveys the paradox that while there is a great need for workers in education, care and health, and jobs that can be created with ecological transformations, the reality of limited investment by governments into public goods and services results in little to no employment opportunities for millions of people. Delving into the benefits that an employment guarantee would bring, the Special Rapporteur highlights various studies which confirm that beyond earning an income, participants ranging from long-term unemployed people to refugees have benefited from the social inclusion, development of skills and improvements in mental health associated with being in employment. Employment schemes that address environmental management could also contribute to food security by reducing biodiversity loss, and increase the resilience of communities to climate change.
The report presents examples of schemes introduced in various regions, including Ethiopia, India and South Africa. There are also references to Professor Pavlina Tcherneva, who was invited by the government of Colombia to present a proposal on a national job guarantee which may include financing with assets seized from narcotics traffickers.
Objections
Addressing the objection that it would be costly to implement, the Special Rapporteur cites research which highlights that the benefits from investments in employment schemes would outweigh the costs of unemployment, taking into account the spending on unemployment assistance, and detrimental impacts on health and society. The report also highlights how unemployment influences future work and education prospects, not limited to the impacted individuals but extending to their family units. Objections involving the possibility of workfare which threatens social protection policies, research linking inflation to low unemployment, household impacts and corruption are also addressed by the Special Rapporteur.
The full report can be accessed here.
Sustainable Capabilities 