Precarious work makes for a precarious recovery

Ronald Janssen

This week, trade unions in Europe will stage massive protests against the sharp turn economic policy in Europe has taken. After having saved the banking system from total collapse, governments throughout Europe are not only cutting public services and social benefits. On top of this harsh fiscal austerity, several member states also intend to inject an even greater dose of flexibility into their labour markets. These governments adhere to the conventional wisdom that, by allowing business to get rid of workers more easily, employers will advance in time the decision to (re)hire workers. In turn, the additional purchasing power coming from the frontloading of jobs would support aggregate demand and accelerate economic recovery.

Working for decent work for all everywhere

Juan Somavia

The global crisis has, once again, illustrated how central decent work is to the lives of women and men everywhere, to the stability of families and peace of communities. Encouragingly the crisis has also set off bold and decisive decisions to counter the downturn. Useful lessons can be drawn from the last 18 months during which the prevailing economic consensus was turned on its head. Rising to the challenge of the global jobs crisis requires a thorough rethink of the relationships between economic growth and employment. A high level of productive employment should be an objective of the same order as low and stable inflation and sound public finances.