Congratulations Brothers and Sisters as we again mark another year of the ITUC initiative recognizing a World Day for Decent Work. Ako Foundation believe that fair wages, good jobs, and improving the many conditions in which people go to work each day, is the way to achieve a better world for us all.

The decent work agenda is based on an integrated and gender-mainstreamed approach consisting of four pillars, which are:

• productive and freely chosen work;
• rights at work;
• social protection;
• social dialogue.

Productive employment and decent work are key elements to achieving fair globalization and reducing poverty. There is an increased urgency among international policy-makers, particularly in the wake of the global financial and economic crisis, to deliver quality jobs along with social protection and respect for workers’ rights at work, to achieve sustainable inclusive economic growth and eliminate poverty.

Decent Work Agenda and its four pillars became integral elements  of the new 2030 Agenda for sustainable development during a UN General Assembly in Sept. 2015. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 8 calls for the promotion of sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work, which have been key areas of engagement for all stakeholders of the decent work agenda.

Yet, the rampant inflation, driven by profit-gouging by powerful corporations that control food, transport, energy and other vital commodities is sending more workers and their families into penury. The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have had dramatic impacts on supply of goods and corporate profiteering from these crises, continue unchecked.

Even before the pandemic, the climate crisis was imminent and income inequality had reached dreadful levels. The pandemic did expose our world’s biggest inequalities, and made everything much more difficult for everyone, including women, young workers and their prospects for the future. Throughout the pandemic, many workers got laid-off. Some, unfortunately did not get their jobs back. Many workers looked after their young children while schools closed. Today, some are still worried about the risks of exposure to the virus in schools all over.

Amidst these challenges and difficulties of working and living through the ongoing pandemic, we take this opportunity to remind all workers that our collective future is worth the fight! I urge all stakeholders including government and employers and all trade unions to come together to ensure decent work at every workplace. Thank you.

By Emmanuel Adomako