Towards a Better Future for Women and Work: Voices of Women and Men

Decent work, the core mandate of the ILO, is defined as productive work for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.Decent work involves opportunities for work that: is productive and delivers a fair income; provides security in the workplace and social protection for workers and their families; offers prospects for personal development and encourages social integration; gives people the freedom to express their concerns, to organize and to participate in decisions that affect their lives; and guarantees equal opportunities and equal treatment for all. The mandate responds to the aspirations of workers. Most want continuity in employment. They want work that allows them to balance their professional and personal lives and that, at the same time, provides sufficient earnings. They expect a fair wage and equal treatment in pay for work of equal value. Workers want protection in the event of illness, accident, unemployment or old age; women also need maternity protection. They want safe and healthy workplaces. They want opportunities for training and learning so they can develop their skills and further their careers as well as better contribute to their workplaces. And they want the right to be represented in the workplace and to be treated as human beings. The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goal 8 calls for “full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men.