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Unemployment, working poor and vulnerable employment
to increase dramatically
due to global economic crisis
Press release - 29 January 2009
GENEVA (ILO News) – The global economic crisis is
expected to lead to a dramatic increase in the number of people
joining the ranks of the unemployed, working poor and those in
vulnerable employment, the International Labour Office (ILO) says
in its annual Global Employment Trends report (GET).
Based on new developments in the labour market and depending
on the timeliness and effectiveness of recovery efforts, the report
says global unemployment in 2009 could increase over 2007 by a
range of 18 million to 30 million workers, and more than 50 million
if the situation continues to deteriorate.
The ILO report also said that in this last scenario some 200
million workers, mostly in developing economies, could be pushed
into extreme poverty.
“The ILO message is realistic, not alarmist. We are now
facing a global jobs crisis. Many governments are aware and acting,
but more decisive and coordinated international action is needed
to avert a global social recession. Progress in poverty reduction
is unravelling and middle classes worldwide are weakening. The
political and security implications are daunting”, said ILO
Director-General, Juan Somavia.
"The crisis is underscoring the relevance of the ILO Decent
Work Agenda. We find many elements of this Agenda in current measures
to promote job creation, deepening and expanding social protection
and more use of social dialogue", Mr. Somavia said. He called
on the upcoming meeting of the G-20 on 2 April in London, alongside
financial issues, to urgently agree on priority measures to promote
productive investments, decent work and social protection objectives,
and policy coordination.
Further information: http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_101462/index.htm
