More people across the world have jobs

It has been reported that the global unemployment rate has dropped to a total of 5 percent, which according to a report by the International Labor Organization (ILO), is the lowest global unemployment rate since the economic crisis of 2008. This five percent accounts for 172 million people worldwide, which is 2 million less than in 2017. The same report also predicts that this rate will remain stable over the next coming years. 

In the same breath however, the ILO report also raises alarming concerns that while global unemployment is indeed at a low point, the jobs being created are poor quality jobs – in terms of working conditions and pay – that keep most of the world's workers locked in inescapable poverty.

Overworked and underpaid is a phrase inherently linked to today's labour force across the world. And while low unemployment rates mean more people are joining the workforce and activating their right to work, poor job quality is something that should not and cannot be overlooked. 

Labour conditions are getting worse for many of the world's workers

Back in June, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "If a person is working 40h/week & is paid so little that they need gov help to make ends meet, it’s not the person that’s a weight on our system - it’s the company." 

There are many definitions of poor labour conditions. It can mean workplaces that employ children thus enforcing illegal child labour. It can also mean working in the Amazon warehouses where employees report to having 18 minutes off per day to go to the bathroom, take a short rest or socialise. It can mean labour in dangerous conditions, where employees are exposed to toxins that impact their health. It can also mean working around the clock and simply not making enough money to support yourself or your family. 

The one thing that ties all of these definitions together however, is the policy enforced and enacted upon by the companies that employ workers, as well as the laws that allow or stop these companies from continuing with their practice. 

Child labour is a major issue in today's world. This is often present in manual labour jobs in agriculture, often in developing countries. FairPlanet has covered child labour in the tobacco industry and Human Rights Watch's work in shedding light on this issue on a global scale and helping to end child labour in the industry. 

If you want to support the work of Human Rights Watch covering this topic, feel encouraged to support them by making a donation.