Some 200 million workers, mostly in developing economies, could be pushed into extreme poverty because of increased unemployment as fallout of global economic recession, said International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The annual ILO report titled Global Employment Trends released from Geneva on Wednesday said global economic crisis is expected to lead to a dramatic increase in the number of people joining the ranks of the unemployed, working poor and those in vulnerable employment.
Based on new developments in the labour market and depending on the timeliness and effectiveness of recovery efforts, the report says global unemployment in 2009 could increase over that in 2007 by a range of 18 million to 30 million workers, and more than 50 million if the situation continues to deteriorate.
“The ILO message is realistic, not alarmist. We are now facing a global jobs crisis. Many governments are aware and acting, but more decisive and coordinated international action is needed to avert a global social recession. Progress in poverty reduction is unravelling and middle classes worldwide are weakening. The political and security implications are daunting”, said ILO Director General Juan Somavia.
“The crisis is underscoring the relevance of the ILO Decent Work Agenda. We find many elements of this Agenda in current measures to promote job creation, deepening and expanding social protection and more use of social dialogue”, he said.
ILO called upon the upcoming meeting of the G-20 on April 2 in London, alongside financial issues, to urgently agree on priority measures to promote productive investments, decent work and social protection objectives, and policy coordination.
The daily star 30.01.2009
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