Manage HR Magazine | Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Sustainable Development Goals focus on economic growth and decent work. The EU is aiming to leverage them to create prosperous and well-being-centred work environments.
FREMONT, CA: Promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth–along with ensuring full and productive employment and decent work opportunities for all–stands as a fundamental pillar of global development efforts. In the realm of sustainable development, there are several research studies on the European Union’s progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.
Over the past five years, the EU has successfully advanced in achieving SDG. In addition, the economy of the EU has expanded, increasing employment opportunities and working conditions for individuals.
Employment for All
Providing equitable employment opportunities for everyone, regardless of gender, social status, age, background, or abilities, is recognised as the foundation for socioeconomic development. More than just a means to ensure a comfortable life, meaningful work fosters active participation in society. Achieving the SDGs places significant emphasis on increasing overall employment rates and eliminating gender and age disparities in job opportunities as crucial steps towards these objectives.
Young citizens who are not engaged in any employment education and training are the most at risk. To enhance the employment prospects of individuals, the EU has established an objective of reducing the NEET (not engaged in employment nor in education and training) rate to 9 per cent by the year 2030.
Inflexible work-life balance and the lack of well-developed care services for child-care and family care serve as significant barriers for women to either stay in or rejoin the workforce. Caring responsibilities, including childcare and adult care, are disproportionately carried by women. This dynamic exacerbates the gender employment gap. People with disabilities also have a multifaceted impact on their lives, one of which is their participation in the labour market.
Decent Work
Decent work, as advocated by the International Labour Organisation(ILO) and integrated into the United Nations SDGs, encapsulates the idea that employment should not only be a livelihood but also a source of dignity, well-being and personal development.
European Union and its individual member states have dedicated their considerable efforts to provide minimum standards of occupational health and safety within the workplace. Fair income and social protection are some other elements in achieving decent work. With fair income, workers can modify their lives rather than falling below the poverty line. Moreover, fixed-term contracts, part-time opportunities or platform-based work can offer greater flexibility to both employers and employees.
More in News