Time equality at work: Global Report under the Follow up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental principles and Rights at work 2003

Discrimination in one form or another occurs in the world of work every day, throughout the world. At the same time, work is a privileged entry point from which to liberate society from discrimination. This is the key message of this Report. Literally millions of people in the world are denied jobs, confined to certain occupations or offered lower pay simply because of their sex, their religion or the colour of their skin, irrespective of their capabilities or the requirements of the job. At its worst, the discrimination that certain groups, such as women, ethnic or racial minorities and migrants, face in the labour market makes them vulnerable to such abuses as forced or compulsory labour. Barriers to decent jobs often compel parents belonging to an ethnic minority or a denigrated caste to resort to the labour of their children to make ends meet. Discrimination at work deprives people of their voice at work and full participation, thus undermining democracy and justice in the workplace. The elimination of discrimination at work is essential if the values of human dignity and individual freedom, social justice and social cohesion are to go beyond formal proclamations. Time for equality at work is the fourth Global Report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. It examines the diverse forms of discrimination at work that have been identified and formally condemned nationally and internationally. It gives an update of the various policy and practical responses, with the aim of mobilising greater support for the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. The elimination of discrimination is essential if all individuals, irrespective of their physical or cultural traits and beliefs, are to be able to choose freely the direction of their professional paths and working lives, to develop fully their talents and capabilities and to be rewarded accordingly to merit. Time for equality at work argues that the benefits of eliminating discrimination in the workplace transcend the individual and extend to the economy and to society. Workers who enjoy equal treatment and equal opportunities improve the efficient use of human resources and diverse talents.