Universal versus employment-based social protection?

Gabriele Koehler

Chapter 48 in The Elgar Companion to Decent Work and the Sustainable Development Goals, 2025, pp 615-626 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In an ideal world, decent work would coincide with a comprehensive social protection system under an eco-social welfare state. In reality, however, four billion people are not covered by social protection -informal economy workers, migrants, refugees. Women are particularly affected. This dire situation is a result of the downsizing or even dismantling of government regulatory responsibilities since the 1980s in step with emerging hyper-globalisation. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights casts social protection as a right. In lower-income countries, the shift into formalized, decent work is not probable in the foreseeable future; in higher-income countries, increasing numbers of adults do not enter or are pushed out of formal employment. Conflict, climate catastrophes, poverty, and lack of decent work necessitate access to universal social protection. It can address income and social cleavages, and promote solidarity among income groups and across social classes. The recent UN initiative for a Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions could help re-unite decent work and social protection, and further a move towards an eco-social welfare state.

Keywords: Business and Management; Development Studies; Economics and Finance; Sociology and Social Policy; Sustainable Development Goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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