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What is "Just Transition"?
Report/Guidelines, Strategies and Recommendations
Jan 2019

The Contribution of Social Dialogue to the 2030 Agenda: Formalizing the Informal Economy

This report discusses the importance of social dialogue in formalizing the informal economy, as outlined in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Geographic Scope
Global, Argentina, Costa Rica, Kenya, Philippines
Sectors
General
Detail
Focus Areas
Employment > Job creation and/or equality, Skills, Social protections, Worker safety
Environment and/or pollution > Human health
Government intervention > Regulation
Inequality and/or poverty > Gender inequality, Other
Keywords
informal economy
social dialogue
recommendation 204
2030 Agenda
stakeholder engagement
tripartite dialogue
poverty alleviation
gender bias
By
Laura Maffei
Publishing Organization
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
Inter-governmental/international organization
Summary

The author summarizes findings of case studies from Argentina, Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Kenya on the contribution of social dialogue to formalizing the informal economy and meeting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She discusses how social dialogue serves as a mechanism for implementing the 2030 Agenda and provides recommendations for improving social dialogue to better contribute to formalizing the informal sector.

The author offers a brief explanation of social dialogue before discussing the scale of the informal sector in the global economy. She then highlights the challenges that informal workers face, demonstrating the need for formalization and explaining why social dialogue is essential to the formalization process. Citing examples from around the world, the author also demonstrates how social dialogue can facilitate progress on social protections, inclusion, and more.

The author highlights the continued challenges to formalization, including lack of commitment to social dialogue by various actors, insufficient time and resources, and lack of coordination between dialogue processes. She concludes with recommendations to address these challenges and strengthen social dialogue outcomes.

Report/Guidelines, Strategies and Recommendations
May 2017

Just Transition: A Report for the OECD

This report presents a holistic approach for a just transition to a low-carbon world that promotes environmental sustainability as well as decent work, social inclusion, and poverty eradication.

Geographic Scope
Global
Sectors
General
Detail
Focus Areas
Economic diversification/restructuring > Economic development plans, Infrastructure investment
Employment > Job creation and/or equality, Skills, Social protections, Worker safety
Government intervention > Public finance
Inequality and/or poverty > Other
Investment > ESG and corporate engagement, Private finance
Keywords
OECD countries
social partners
informal workers
innovations
indigenous rights
poverty alleviation
disclosure
trade unions
community development
By
Samantha Smith
Publishing Organization
Just Transition Centre
Inter-governmental/international organization, Labor organization
Summary

This report from the Just Transition Centre describes various concepts and principles of just transitions, using case studies from around the world to analyze the roles key stakeholders can play.

With social dialogue and social protection as its main principles, the International Labor Organization (ILO) definition of just transition serves as a bridge to the future where “all jobs are green and decent, poverty is eradicated, and communities are thriving and resilient,” as defined by the ILO. This report examines the potential role for various stakeholders depending on the scale of a transition. Drawing from several case studies, the report offers examples in which social dialogue has been key, including the closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power facility in California and the wind sector transition in Denmark.

The report further acknowledges gaps in these transitions, such as a lack of appropriate government policies, funds, and structures that make it difficult for workers, employers, and communities to move forward. The author offers recommendations to help achieve both Paris Agreement targets and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including making a strong commitment to social dialogue.