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Context

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a report, "The state of social justice: A work in progress".

What is Social Justice?  

The ILO defines social justice as the principle that every individual, regardless of their background, has the right to pursue their material and spiritual well-being in an environment of freedom, dignity, economic security, and equal opportunity.

The report is built upon four key pillars that form the foundation of this vision:

• Fundamental Human Rights and Capabilities: Ensuring basic rights and access to essentials like health and education.
• Equal Access to Opportunities: Creating a level playing field for all individuals to secure decent work and improve their lives.
• Fair Distribution: Ensuring that the benefits of economic progress are shared equitably across society.
• Fair Transitions: Managing societal shifts—such as environmental, digital, and demographic changes—in a way that is just and inclusive for all.

Key Findings of the Report

Areas of Progress (1995-2025)

• Poverty Reduction: Extreme poverty has declined from affecting 39% of the world's population in 1995 to just 10% today. Similarly, working poverty has dropped from 28% to 7%.  
• Child Labour: Number of children (aged 5-14) in child labour has been more than halved, falling from 250 million to 106 million.
• Education: Secondary school completion rates have seen an increase of 22% points.  
• Workplace Safety: Work-related mortality has declined by over 10% since the year 2000.
• Social Protection: More than half of the global population is now covered by at least one form of social protection.   

Challenges and Alarming Trends

• The Lottery of Birth: Around 71% of a person’s earnings is determined exclusively by the circumstances of their birth, over which they have no control.
• Stagnating Progress: Progress in reducing poverty and hunger have slowed over the last two decades.
• Informal Economy: Share of workers in informal employment has barely changed, falling by only 2% in 20 years. 58% of the global workforce remains in the informal sector, lacking social protection and decent working conditions.
• Gender Gap: The gap in labour force participation between men and women has narrowed by a mere 3% since 2005 and remains wide at 24%.
• Trust Erosion: Trust in public institutions has been on a steady decline globally since 1982. This reflects a growing public perception that the system is unfair and hard work is not being rewarded, which threatens the legitimacy of democratic systems.

Future Challenges

The ILO warns that three major transformations are reshaping the world of work and could deepen existing inequalities if not managed with a focus on social justice.

Environmental Transition

Shift to a green economy poses significant risks for workers in carbon-intensive sectors (like coal mining and thermal power). Without "just transition" policies that focus on reskilling and social safety nets, millions could be left behind.

Digital Transformation

Rapid advancement of AI and automation threatens to create a "digital divide," exacerbating inequalities between those with access to modern skills and technology and those without.

Demographic Shifts

Ageing populations in developed countries and massive youth bubbles in developing regions will place huge pressure on labour markets and social protection systems.

ILO report Relevance for India

Inequality Challenge

India is one of the world's most unequal countries. The "lottery of birth" is relevant, due to the impact of caste, gender, and regional disparities on life outcomes.

Informal Economy

With nearly 90% of the workforce in the informal sector, India is at the epicenter of the challenge identified by the ILO. Bringing these workers into the formal economy with social security is a primary policy goal.

Gender Gap

India's female labour force participation rate (41.7% in 2023-24) is among the lowest in the world, reflecting the deep-seated structural and cultural barriers that the ILO report highlights.

Demographic Dividend vs Challenge

India's youth bulge is a massive opportunity, but only if the country can create enough decent jobs and provide relevant skills—a challenge highlighted by the report's warning on demographic shifts.

Imperative of a "Just Transition"

As India pushes to expand its renewable energy capacity, ensuring a just transition for the millions of workers and communities dependent on the coal industry is a critical and immediate policy challenge.

Way Forward: ILO's Recommendations

Integrate Social Justice in All Policies: Social justice must be a core consideration not just in labour policy, but also in finance, industry, climate, and health policies.

Tackle Unequal Access: Implement policies that directly address unequal access to opportunities, resources, and education.

Invest in People: Prioritize investments in skills training, social protection systems, and active labour market policies to help workers navigate the ongoing transitions.

Ensure Fair Redistribution: Strengthen mechanisms like progressive taxation, social protection floors, and robust wage-setting systems to ensure economic gains are shared more fairly.

Strengthen International Cooperation: Enhance cooperation across borders to manage global challenges like climate change and digital transformation coherently and equitably.

Conclusion

The ILO’s report warns that inequality and informality threaten social justice, urging a renewed social contract and Fair Transition policies to ensure decent, inclusive work globally.

Source:  DOWNTOEARTH