The Legal Empowerment Agenda

The Legal Empowerment Agenda
Author: Dr Dan Banik
Publisher: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2013-03-28
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1409489310

Despite providing society with a set of crucial services, large groups of workers in the informal economy are subject to exclusion and discrimination, and their lives are characterised by various types of vulnerabilities and deprivations that result from the denial of social, economic, political and legal protection. Although not new to the development vocabulary, the informal economy has received renewed attention in recent years largely due to the ILO's 'decent work' agenda and various efforts to promote 'legal empowerment of the poor'. With an explicit focus on labour rights, the book focuses on a nuanced understanding of the regulatory and operational challenges and dilemmas related to implementing the two approaches in selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to analyzing structures and relations of power between the formal and the informal economies, the book critically discusses the work of governments, civil society organizations and the poor themselves to address the daily challenges of living in the informal economy.

Towards Decent Work in a Sub-Saharan Africa

Towards Decent Work in a Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: Theo Sparreboom
Publisher: International Labour Office
Total Pages: 188
Release: 2011
Genre: Labor market
ISBN: 9789221249429

Decent work - productive employment that delivers a fair income, security, freedom and dignity, social protection for families, opportunities for personal development and social integration, and equality of opportunity for men and women - is a fundamental goal for all societies. It is also a central element in the fight against global poverty and hunger. In 2008, the United Nations adopted a new target under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) "to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people". This target has particular relevance for sub-Saharan Africa, where widespread poverty is inextricably entwined with a lack of decent work. Drawing on broad regional labour market analyses and country case studies, this book demonstrates how the new MDG employment indicators can be used as a basis for improved labour market and poverty monitoring as well as improved employment policy development in sub-Saharan Africa. It is argued that analysis based on the MDG employment indicators provides a major building block for employment diagnostics, which in turn serves to inform growth strategies that generate more high-quality and productive jobs.

The Influence of Labour Legislation on Job Creation and Job Sustainability in South Africa

The Influence of Labour Legislation on Job Creation and Job Sustainability in South Africa
Author: Catharina A.J. Womack
Publisher: AOSIS
Total Pages: 446
Release: 2020-12-31
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1928523536

This scholarly book focuses on the issue of high unemployment and the challenges related thereto in South Africa. It demonstrates the urgent need for research into the contribution of job creation to poverty alleviation and economic growth. This research is relevant from a legal, economic and social sciences point of view. The main thesis of the book is to explore the influence of labour legislation on job creation. It investigates sustainability regarding employment relationships through the lens of the two primary participants: business and organised labour. This book adds value to the social justice context from both a societal and business point of view. It provides business and unionised labour a voice from which the influence of labour legislation on job creation and job sustainability can be addressed.

Decent Work and Domestic Workers in South Africa

Decent Work and Domestic Workers in South Africa
Author: Nicola Smit
Publisher:
Total Pages: 24
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

The majority of domestic workers in South Africa are (black African) women. As long as women do not have the freedom to make their labour market choices, it cannot be said that they are empowered. This article examines to what degree domestic workers in South Africa are afforded decent work institutionally. This paper analyses and critically evaluates how the Decent Work Agenda strategic objectives have been pursued with respect to domestic workers and to what extent they have been achieved.

Improving Labour Market Information in Southern Africa

Improving Labour Market Information in Southern Africa
Author: Theo Sparreboom
Publisher:
Total Pages: 46
Release: 1999
Genre: Labor market
ISBN:

Examines definitions of labour market information and describes procedures and arrangements that constitute a labour market information system. Considers the linkages between labour market information and labour market policies and looks at the role of databases in labour market analysis. Includes an outline of a basic labour market information system.