Global jobs situation still poor

WINDHOEK – An estimated 2,8 billion people – roughly two fifths of the world’s population – were formally employed in 2003, more than ever before, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

But this estimate masks serious challenges facing workers and families across the planet. Worldwatch Institute, who recently issued the book ‘Vital Signs 2005’, noted that roughly half of the world’s workers – some 1,4 billion people – struggled to survive on less than N$14 a day.”In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 90 per cent of workers fall into this category of the ‘working poor’, most of them unable to earn a secure income or liveable wage,” it noted.Meanwhile, an estimated 186 million people were either without work or looking for a job in 2003, which is also a record number.The ILO attributes that the overall jump in joblessness to sluggish recovery of the world economy, the ongoing conflict in Iraq, the global threat of terrorism and the effects of diseases such as SARS on tourism in Asia.Another trend in many developing countries has been a rise in informal labour.Women account for a large share of the workers in the informal sector.In many countries, their daily activities are not counted as formal labour.Meanwhile, women may face economic, social and cultural barriers that impede them from actively seeking work.Female participation in the workforce is the lowest in the world in the Middle East.As women’s contributions are increasingly recognised, the gap between male and female employment rates worldwide has narrowed since 1980.Today, more women work than ever before, accounting for 40 per cent of world’s workers.Yet even where they are formally employed, women tend to have less training, fewer job opportunities and lower pay than men.Men dominate work in industry and agriculture, while women are employed in greater numbers in service-sector jobs.According to ILO, an estimated 88,2 million people aged 15 to 24 were without work in 2003, accounting for nearly half the world’s jobless.In the developing world unemployment in this group can be nearly four times the rate among adults.The greatest challenge remains in sub-Saharan Africa, where the labour force continues to surge, unemployment remains high, AIDS is rampant and economic growth has been stagnating, it added.- NampaWorldwatch Institute, who recently issued the book ‘Vital Signs 2005’, noted that roughly half of the world’s workers – some 1,4 billion people – struggled to survive on less than N$14 a day.”In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 90 per cent of workers fall into this category of the ‘working poor’, most of them unable to earn a secure income or liveable wage,” it noted.Meanwhile, an estimated 186 million people were either without work or looking for a job in 2003, which is also a record number.The ILO attributes that the overall jump in joblessness to sluggish recovery of the world economy, the ongoing conflict in Iraq, the global threat of terrorism and the effects of diseases such as SARS on tourism in Asia.Another trend in many developing countries has been a rise in informal labour.Women account for a large share of the workers in the informal sector.In many countries, their daily activities are not counted as formal labour.Meanwhile, women may face economic, social and cultural barriers that impede them from actively seeking work.Female participation in the workforce is the lowest in the world in the Middle East.As women’s contributions are increasingly recognised, the gap between male and female employment rates worldwide has narrowed since 1980.Today, more women work than ever before, accounting for 40 per cent of world’s workers.Yet even where they are formally employed, women tend to have less training, fewer job opportunities and lower pay than men.Men dominate work in industry and agriculture, while women are employed in greater numbers in service-sector jobs.According to ILO, an estimated 88,2 million people aged 15 to 24 were without work in 2003, accounting for nearly half the world’s jobless.In the developing world unemployment in this group can be nearly four times the rate among adults.The greatest challenge remains in sub-Saharan Africa, where the labour force continues to surge, unemployment remains high, AIDS is rampant and economic growth has been stagnating, it added.- Nampa