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{{short description|A global goal to promote decent work and economic growth by 2030 sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all}}
[[File:Sustainable Development Goal 8.png|thumb|SDG 8 logo]]
[[File:Sustainable Development Goal 8.png|thumb|SDG 8 logo]]



Revision as of 15:05, 4 September 2020

SDG 8 logo

Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8 or Goal 8) is about "decent work and economic growth" and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which were established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. The full title is to: "Foster sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all."[1] SDG 8 is designed to foster sustainable and equitable economic growth for all workers.[2] This means achieving “higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.”[2]

The Goal has 12 targets to be achieved by 2030. Progress towards targets will be measured, monitored and evaluated by 17 indicators. One of the targets is: "By 2030, the target is to establish policies for sustainable tourism that will create jobs".

Roughly half the world’s population still lives on the equivalent of about US$2 a day. Besides, in too many places, having a job doesn’t guarantee the ability to escape from poverty. This slow and uneven progress requires everyone to rethink and retool the economic and social policies aimed at eradicating poverty.[3]

Background

Close to three decades, the number of workers living in extreme poverty has reduced drastically. This is despite of the lasting impact of the 2008 economic crisis and global recession. In developing countries, 34 percent of total employment were for the middle class, a number that has increased rapidly between 1991 and 2015.[3]

However, as the global economy continues to recover, the world is seeing slower growth, inequalities widened, and low level of job opportunity that is not commensurate of the labour force.

Prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, the global economy was growing at a slower rate than in previous years notwithstanding improvements in labour productivity and unemployment.[4] The pandemic has abruptly and profoundly disrupted it, pushing the world into a recession.[4] The unprecedented shock to the world’s labour markets is expected to result in a decrease of around 10.5 per cent in aggregate working hours in the second quarter of 2020, equivalent to 305 million full-time workers.[4] Small and medium enterprises, workers in informal employment, the self-employed, daily wage earners and workers in sectors at the highest risk of disruption have been hit the hardest. [4]

Employment growth since 2008 has averaged only 0.1% annually, compared with 0.9% between 2000 and 2007. Over 60 per cent of all workers lack any kind of employment contract.[5][6]

Targets, indicators and progress

The UN has defined 12 Targets and 17 Indicators for SDG 8.[7] Targets specify the goals and indicators represent the metrics by which the world aims to track whether these targets are achieved.

Target 8.1: Sustainable economic growth

World map for Indicator 8.1.1 in 2015: Annual growth rate of real GDP per employed person[8]

The full title of Target 8.1 is: "Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries".[8][9]

It has one indicator: "Indicator 8.1.1: Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita."Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). More than 204 million people were unemployed in 2015.[10]

Fewer than 45 per cent of wage and salaried workers are employed on a full-time, permanent basis, and even that share is declining. Again, 204 million people are unemployed in 2015. By 2019, more than 212 million people will be out of work, up from the current 201 million.[11]

Target 8.6: Promote youth employment, education and training

The full title for Target 8.6 is: "By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training".[8] Unlike most SDG targets set for the year 2030, this is set to be achieved by 2020.[8]

Its Indicator 8.6.1 is the "Proportion of youth (aged 15–24 years) not in education, employment or training".

In 2019, 22 per cent of the world’s young people were not in employment, education or training, a figure that has hardly changed since 2005.[4] Addressing youth employment means finding solutions with and for young people who are seeking a decent and productive job. Such solutions should address both supply, i.e. education, skills development and training, and demand.[12]

Target 8.7: End modern slavery, trafficking, and child labour

The full title for Target 8.7 is "Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms".[8]

Its Indicator 8.7.1 is the "Proportion and number of children aged 5–17 years engaged in child labour, by sex and age".[8]

Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe working environments

The full title of the Target 8.8 is: "Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment".[8]

It has two indicators:[8]

  • Indicator 8.8.1 is the "Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status".
  • Indicator 8.8.2 is the "Level of national compliance with labour rights (freedom of association and collective bargaining) based on International Labour Organization (ILO) textual sources and national legislation, by sex and migrant status".

Substandard working conditions are often related to poverty, inequality and discrimination. In many contexts, certain groups – such as workers with disabilities, women workers, youth, and migrants, among others – face particular obstacles in accessing decent work and may be especially vulnerable to abuses.[13]

Target 8.9: Promote beneficial and sustainable tourism

The full text for Target 8.9 is "By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products."[8]

It has to indicators:[8]

  • Indicator 8.9.1 is "Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate".
  • Indicator 8.9.2 is "The proportion of jobs in sustainable tourism industries out of total tourism jobs".

Target 8.10: Universal access to banking, insurance and financial services

The official text for Target 8.10 is: "Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all".[8] The outbreak of Covid-19 Pandemic has reducde the growth of every economy in the world, including every sector like banking, insurance and services.[4]

Target 8.19 has two indicators:[8]

  • Indicator 8.10.1 is the "(a) Number of commercial bank branches per 100,000 adults and (b) number of automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults".
  • Indicator 8.10.2 is the "Proportion of adults (15 years and older) with an account at a bank or other financial institution or with a mobile-money-service provider".

Target 8.A: Increase aid for trade support

The official wording for Target 8.a "Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries."[8]

The Indicator 8.a.1 is "Aid for trade commitments and disbursements". This is measured as total Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocated to aid for trade in 2015 US$.

In 2018, aid for trade commitments remained stable, at $58 billion, based on current prices.[4] South and Central Asia received the highest share thereof (31.4 per cent), followed by sub-Saharan Africa (29.2 per cent).[4] Lower-middle-income countries received 37.5 per cent of aid for trade, followed by least developed countries (36.8 per cent).[4]

Target 8.B: Develop a global youth employment strategy

The full title of Target 8.b is: "By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization".

It has one indicator: The Indicator 8.b.1 is the "Existence of a developed and operationalized national strategy for youth employment". Unlike most SDG targets with a target for 2030, the goal date for this indicator is 2020.

According to data for 2019, 98 per cent of the countries surveyed had a youth employment strategy or a plan to develop one in the near future.[4]

Monitoring

High-level progress reports for all the SDGs are published in the form of reports by the United Nations Secretary General, the most recent one is from April 2020.[14]

The links between education and economic growth and jobs, the main topics included in SDG8, are by far the most reflected in our sample of report, both in terms of number of reports referring to them and in terms of depth of elaboration.[15]

Organizations

Reception

World Pensions Council (WPC) development economists have argued that the twin considerations of long-term economic growth and infrastructure investment were not prioritized enough. The fact they were designated as the number 8 and number 9 objective respectively was considered a rather "mediocre ranking [which] defies common sense".[20]

Continued global economic growth of 3 percent (Goal 8) may not be reconcilable with ecological sustainability goals, because the required rate of absolute global eco-economic decoupling is far higher than any country has achieved in the past.[21]

Society and culture

Businesses are engines for job creation and economic growth and foster economic activity through their value chain. Decent work opportunities are good for business and society. Companies that uphold labor standards across their own operations and value chains face lower risk of reputational damage and legal liability. Instituting non-discriminatory practices and embracing diversity and inclusion will also lead to greater access to skilled, productive talent.[22]

References

  1. ^ United Nations (2015) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1)
  2. ^ a b "17 Companies Helping Meet the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals". The Founder Institute. Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  3. ^ a b "Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth". UNDP. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "United Nations Economic and Social Council - E/2020/57 Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Report of the Secretary-General". undocs.org. Retrieved 2020-09-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Goal #8: Decent work and economic growth (The 2030 development agenda)". www.ilo.org. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  6. ^ "Goal 8 Pdf Upload on SDG Compass" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "SDG Compass Goal 8".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Ritchie, Roser, Mispy, Ortiz-Ospina (2018) "Measuring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals." (SDG 8) SDG-Tracker.org, website
  9. ^ United Nations (2017) Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/71/313)
  10. ^ "United Nations Development Programme Official Websie".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "International Labour Organization". www.ilo.org. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
  12. ^ "Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth". Sustainable Development Goals Fund. 2015-12-14. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  13. ^ "SDG Compass for Goal 8".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ United Nations Economic and Social Council (2020) Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals Report of the Secretary-General, High-level political forum on sustainable development, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (E/2020/57), 28 April 2020
  15. ^ "Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth". UNDP. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  16. ^ "World Bank Group and The 2030 Agenda". World Bank. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  17. ^ "WDI: Sustainable Development Goals". datatopics.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  18. ^ "Goal #8: Decent work and economic growth (The 2030 development agenda)". www.ilo.org. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  19. ^ "Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth". UN Women. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  20. ^ Firzli, M. Nicolas J. (October 2016). "Beyond SDGs: Can Fiduciary Capitalism and Bolder, Better Boards Jumpstart Economic Growth?". Analyse Financière. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  21. ^ Hickel, Jason (2019-04-15). "The contradiction of the sustainable development goals: Growth versus ecology on a finite planet". Sustainable Development. 27 (5). Wiley: 873–884. doi:10.1002/sd.1947. ISSN 0968-0802.
  22. ^ "Labour | UN Global Compact". www.unglobalcompact.org. Retrieved 2020-09-01.