Join the global call for secure jobs on World Day for Decent Work

October 7 is World Day for Decent Work – a day where trade unions across the globe come together to stand up for decent work.

Led by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), unions are using this day to call on governments to restore and protect secure work.

“Governments must have one overriding priority, and that is jobs. They need to recommit to full employment. This provides the basis for economic security and for social justice,” says the ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

“Trade unions are calling on governments to get around the table with unions, employers and others to set ambitious targets to create and retain jobs as a matter of urgency.

According to the ITUC, 255 million full time jobs have been lost worldwide since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and an additional 130 million jobs at risk in 2021. To stem this tide, it’s vital that governments enact policies that create quality jobs that support an inclusive economic recovery.

Key to an inclusive recovery is a commitment to creating secure jobs with decent wages and conditions. It’s something the Australian union movement continues to fight for.

Australia used to have the most secure jobs in the world but more than one in four workers in Australia are now in insecure work with no access to sick leave, annual leave or other basic entitlements.

While the Morrison Government could change laws to make jobs more reliable and secure, they continue to support big business and multinational corporations over Australian workers.

Whether it’s casualised jobs with fewer rights, labour hire that underpays for the same job, part-time work without meaningful guaranteed hours, or years of low pay growth, insecure work is a serious problem for our community. 

This World Day for Decent Work, join the global trade union movement in demanding the government take action to restore job security for millions of workers.