Decent Work for All 101
What is Decent Work in South Asia?
ILO Definition Applied: Work that provides fair income, workplace security, social protection, better prospects for personal development, freedom of expression, organization, and participation in decisions affecting workers' lives - with special focus on transforming South Asia's vast informal economy.
South Asian Reality: With over 80% workers in informal economy, decent work requires addressing fundamental challenges of social protection, basic rights, and economic security for hundreds of millions.
South Asian Decent Work Challenges
Scale of Informality: 80-90% of workers in informal economy across regionAgricultural Dependence: 40-60% still employed in agriculture with seasonal vulnerabilitiesGender Gaps: Women earn 34% less than men, concentrated in most vulnerable workYouth Unemployment: High rates despite growing education levelsSocial Exclusion: Caste, religion, ethnicity affect work opportunities and wages
The Four Pillars in South Asian Context
PILLAR 1: EMPLOYMENT CREATION
Goal: Generate quality jobs for South Asia's growing workforce
Employment Challenges in South Asia:
Job Creation Gap: Need Skills Mismatch: Education system not aligned with job market needsRegional Imbalances: Limited opportunities in rural/remote areasSector Transitions: Moving from agriculture to manufacturing and services
Country Examples:
India: Skill India mission, PM Mudra Yojana for micro-enterprisesBangladesh: RMG sector employment for rural womenPakistan: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor job creationSri Lanka: IT sector development and export processing zones
Solutions in Practice:
PILLAR 2: WORKPLACE RIGHTS
Goal: Ensure fundamental labor rights in formal and informal sectors
Rights Violations in South Asian Workplaces:
Child Labor: 12 million children in hazardous work in India aloneBonded Labor: Prevalent in brick kilns, agriculture, carpet weavingWorkplace Safety: Poor safety standards, industrial accidentsFreedom of Association: Limited unionization, especially in informal sectorDiscrimination: Caste, gender, religion-based exclusion from better jobs
Policy Responses:
India: New Labour Codes consolidating 44 laws into 4 codesBangladesh: Accord on Fire and Building Safety post-Rana PlazaPakistan: Provincial labor inspection reformsNepal: New constitution guaranteeing right to employment
Examples of Rights Violations I've Observed:
PILLAR 3: SOCIAL PROTECTION
Goal: Extend social security to informal workers and vulnerable groups
Social Protection Gaps:
Coverage: Only 20-30% of workforce has formal social protectionInformal Workers: 73% lack any form of social securityWomen Workers: Lower access due to informal work concentrationRural Workers: Limited access to healthcare, pensions
Innovative Social Protection Models:
India: eShram portal for informal worker registrationIndia: PM-SYM (pension scheme for informal workers)Bangladesh: Health insurance for RMG workersSri Lanka: Social security scheme for self-employed
Gaps I See in My Context:
PILLAR 4: SOCIAL DIALOGUE
Goal: Strengthen worker voice and representation across sectors
Social Dialogue Challenges:
Union Density: Low formal unionization rates (2-5% in most countries)Informal Sector: Lack of traditional collective bargaining structuresGender Representation: Women underrepresented in union leadershipSectoral Gaps: Weak representation in agriculture, domestic work, platform work
Alternative Organizing Models:
SEWA India: Union-cooperative model for informal women workersHomeNet South Asia: Home-based workers' networkDigital platforms: WhatsApp groups, mobile apps for worker organizingCommunity organizations: SHGs, cooperatives as worker voice platforms
New Organizing Models I've Seen:
Sectoral Focus in South Asia
Agriculture (40-60% of South Asian workforce)
Decent Work Challenges:
Seasonal unemployment: 4-6 months without regular workClimate vulnerability: Droughts, floods affecting livelihoodsPesticide exposure: Health risks, lack of protective equipmentWomen's work invisibility: Unpaid family labor not recognizedDebt cycles: Crop failure leading to indebtedness
Solutions:
MGNREGA: Employment guarantee during lean seasonsCrop insurance: PM Fasal Bima Yojana protecting farmersMSP systems: Minimum support prices for key cropsFPOs: Farmer Producer Organizations improving bargaining power
Garment Industry (Major employer across region)
Worker Profile:
Bangladesh: 80% womenWorking conditions: Long hours, workplace safety concernsWages: Often below living wage standardsRights: Limited collective bargaining, union restrictions
Post-Rana Plaza Improvements:
Building safety inspections and remediation
Worker safety training programs
Grievance mechanisms and worker participation
Domestic Work (Largely invisible sector)
Challenges:
Legal recognition: Often excluded from labor lawsWorkplace abuse: 91% face some form of abuseWage theft: Delayed or non-payment of wagesSocial isolation: Working alone in private homes
Organizing Efforts:
National Domestic Workers Movement (India): Policy advocacyLegal reforms: Some states recognizing domestic workTechnology: Apps connecting workers and employers safely
Gender Dimensions in South Asian Context
Women's Work Patterns in South Asia
Labor Force Participation:
India: 23% women's LFPR (one of world's lowest)Bangladesh: 36% LFPR with RMG sector driving growthPakistan: 25% LFPR with cultural constraintsSri Lanka: 35% LFPR with relatively better conditions
Sectoral Concentration:
Agriculture: 75% of women workers, mostly unpaid family laborHome-based work: 50 million women in South AsiaDomestic work: Predominantly female with minimal protectionsManufacturing: Garments, textiles, food processing
Key Barriers:
Care responsibilities: 10x more unpaid care work than menMobility restrictions: Cultural and safety constraintsSkills gaps: Limited access to technical/digital trainingWorkplace harassment: 68% report harassmentWage gaps: 34% lower wages than men
Women's Economic Empowerment Strategies
SEWA model: Organizing, financial services, capacity buildingSHG movement: 12+ million women in self-help groups (India)Digital platforms: Online work opportunities, skill trainingPolicy support: Maternity benefits, childcare provisionsSafe transport: Women-only transport options
Migration & Decent Work
Internal Migration Patterns
Scale: 450+ million internal migrants in South AsiaSeasonal migration: Agriculture to construction, urban servicesDistress migration: Drought, conflict, economic shocksCircular migration: Temporary moves maintaining rural ties
Migrant Worker Challenges:
Documentation: Lack of identity proofs in destination areasExploitation: Wage theft, poor working conditionsSocial exclusion: Limited access to healthcare, educationHousing: Overcrowded, unhygienic living conditions
COVID-19 Impact:
Mass return: Millions of migrants returned to villagesJob losses: Disproportionate impact on informal workersPolicy response: Employment guarantee, food security measures
Technology & Future of Work in South Asia
Digital Platforms & Gig Economy
Growth Sectors:
Ride-hailing: Uber, Ola drivers across major citiesFood delivery: Swiggy, Zomato, Foodpanda workersE-commerce: Amazon, Flipkart delivery personnelDigital services: Data entry, content moderation, customer service
Worker Challenges:
Classification: Independent contractors vs. employeesSocial protection: No health insurance, pension rightsAlgorithmic management: Rating systems affecting earningsIncome volatility: Irregular and unpredictable earnings
Organizing Efforts:
Driver unions: Protests over fare cuts, working conditionsPolicy advocacy: Demands for social security coverageDigital organizing: WhatsApp groups, online platforms
Climate Change & Green Jobs
Green Job Opportunities in South Asia
Renewable energy: Solar panel manufacturing, installation, maintenanceWaste management: Recycling, waste-to-energy projectsSustainable agriculture: Organic farming, water conservationGreen construction: Energy-efficient buildings, green infrastructureForest restoration: Afforestation, ecosystem restoration projects
Just Transition Needs:
Coal workers: Reskilling for renewable energy jobsFarmers: Climate-resilient agriculture trainingUrban workers: Green skills development programs
Major Case Studies from South Asia
SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association) - India
Founded: 1972 in Gujarat, India
Impact: 2+ million women members across 18 states
Model: Union + Cooperative + Movement
Key Innovations:
Organizing informal workers: Street vendors, home-based workers, agricultural laborersFinancial inclusion: SEWA Bank providing credit, savings, insuranceCapacity building: Training in trades, leadership, technologyPolicy advocacy: Influencing labor laws, social security policies
Outcomes:
Increased earnings and asset ownership among members
Better working conditions and social protection access
Enhanced women's leadership and decision-making power
Policy recognition of informal workers' rights
Bangladesh Garment Industry Transformation
Crisis: Rana Plaza collapse (2013) - 1,134 workers died
Industry Size: 80% women
Safety Improvements:
Accord & Alliance: International safety inspection programsBuilding improvements: Structural safety, fire safety measuresWorker training: Safety awareness, evacuation proceduresGrievance mechanisms: Worker complaint systems
Ongoing Challenges:
Living wages: Wages still below living wage calculationsUnion rights: Limited freedom of associationGender-based violence: Harassment and discrimination persistSustainability: Post-Accord monitoring and compliance
Sri Lankan Tea Industry - MJF Group Initiative
Context: Tea plantation workers, predominantly Tamil estate workers
Challenges: Poor housing, limited healthcare, educational access
Multi-stakeholder Approach:
Housing improvement: Better accommodation facilitiesHealthcare access: On-site medical facilities, health insuranceEducation: Schools, vocational training, scholarshipsWorker participation: Estate development committees
Results:
Improved living conditions and health outcomes
Better educational opportunities for workers' children
Enhanced worker voice in estate management
Model for industry-wide improvements
Waste Pickers Organization - India
Context: Informal waste collectors in urban areas
Organizing efforts: Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (Pune)
Achievements:
Recognition: Formal recognition as waste management workersIntegration: Inclusion in municipal waste management systemsBenefits: Identity cards, health insurance, protective equipmentTraining: Skills development, safety training
Lessons:
Community organizing can transform informal work into recognized occupation
Environmental services provide pathway to decent work
Policy advocacy essential for systemic change
Measurement & Progress Tracking
Key Decent Work Indicators - South Asian Context
Indicator
India
Bangladesh
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Informal Employment %
Women's LFPR %
Youth Unemployment %
Social Protection Coverage %
Progress Areas to Monitor:
Formalization rates: Movement from informal to formal employmentWage growth: Real wage increases, especially for women and marginalized groupsSafety improvements: Reduction in workplace accidents, occupational diseasesUnion density: Growth in worker organization and collective bargainingSocial protection expansion: Coverage of informal workers, rural populations
Personal Reflection - South Asian Context
Examples of decent/indecent work I observe in my community:
How do caste, class, gender affect work opportunities in my context?
Technology changes affecting work in my region:
Actions I can take to promote decent work:
Key Takeaways for South Asia
Informal economy transformation is central to decent work progress in South AsiaWomen's economic participation requires addressing care work, safety, and skills gapsAgricultural workers need seasonal employment support and climate resilienceMigration policies must protect workers moving between states and sectorsTechnology offers opportunities but risks creating new forms of precarious workSocial protection extension to informal workers is urgent and feasibleAlternative organizing models (like SEWA) show pathways for worker voiceRegional cooperation needed for migrant worker protection and standards
Additional Notes & Insights
This handout is part of the ImpactMojo 101 Knowledge Series Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 • Free to use with attribution • www.impactmojo.in
