Striving for Decent Work: Assessing Kerala's Progress Toward SDG Labour Targets
Decent labour concept; Employment; Labour Target; Sustainable development goals
This Article delves into Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is pivotal in ensuring universal access to quality employment, thereby diminishing unemployment and, consequentially, alleviating widespread poverty. It underscores the global consensus on essential facets of equitable employment opportunities, encompassing job availability and social security for workers. Drawing upon data primarily sourced from the State Statistical Office in Kerala, this paper examines the myriad aspects and indicators of decent work and presents the latest empirical findings. Our analysis reveals that a glut in labour supply coupled with scant employment opportunities escalates unemployment rates, notably affecting women and youth. This challenge is further exacerbated by structural inefficiencies and socioeconomic disparities. To counter these issues, the study proposes several strategic interventions. Enhancing educational and vocational training for women not only equips them with necessary skills but also fosters an inclusive workforce. Additionally, bolstering the capabilities of labour inspectorates can ensure adherence to labour standards and promote decent work conditions. Effective management of the Decent Work phenomenon is crucial and requires comprehensive policy frameworks that integrate these elements. By implementing these strategies, there is potential to significantly transform the labour market dynamics, promoting sustainable economic growth and social equity. This paper aims to contribute to the discourse on employment policies, advocating for informed decisions that are pivotal in achieving the targets set forth in Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Agenda. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
Studies in Big Data;Volume;164;pp.577-588
Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-75095-3_45 https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002028889?origin=resultslist
Rajan P.R., Department of Economics-Zamorins Guruvayurappan College, Calicut University, Malappuram, India; Rishikesh K.B., Department of Commerce, School of Commerce, Finance and Accountancy, Christ (Deemed to Be University), 29, Bangalore, India