Decent Work in the Era of Sustainable Development

What is the role of decent work in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) era? This was the main topic of discussion in the seminar organized by the Global Sustainability Foundation and the Trade Union Solidarity Centre of Finland (SASK), which took place in Helsinki on 13 June 2016.

The event featured President Tarja Halonen, Guy Ryder, Director General of ILO, Janne Ronkkainen, Executive Director of SASK, and Finn Tarp, Director of UNU-WIDER, as well as representatives of Finnish labour market organizations, government, and the private sector. 

Finn Tarp gave a presentation during the event panel, led by Secretary of State Paula Lehtomäki, discussing the implementation of the decent work agenda in Finland and globally as part of the SDGs.

During his presentation, Professor Tarp explored the challenges regarding data availability to monitor progress and the difficulties in measuring SDG indicators.

For instance, data by gender is not always straightforwardly available as data is often collected only at the household level. This can result in missing important specificities such as asset or land ownership, consumption and individual-level poverty.

Monitoring the basic principle of the 2030 Agenda – that no one is left behind – will require a significant level of data disaggregation. National statistical offices must play a leading role in the development of the indicator framework, ensuring disaggregated data is collected and available.

Despite data gaps and lack of clarity on how to deal with them, Professor Tarp believes that these difficulties in collecting the correct data are, nonetheless, not an excuse for inaction.

View and download Finn Tarp's presentation slides

Professor Tarp concluded by sharing research evidence from UNU-WIDER’s Growth and Poverty (GAPP) and Learning to Compete (L2C) projects for the implementation of a decent work agenda in Africa. He argues that agricultural productivity is a powerful lever for poverty reduction and that Africa can indeed break into the global market for industrial goods.

Programme