World of Work podcasts by the ILO

International Labour Org.
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World of Work podcasts by the ILO

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations and is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity. Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent work and the economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress. Its tripartite structure provides a unique platform for promoting decent work for all women and men. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

  1. Skills for migration and employment: Do we need a new paradigm?

    DEC 12

    Skills for migration and employment: Do we need a new paradigm?

    Amid rising labour shortages and employers around the world struggling to find skilled workers, labour migration, if managed properly, can help widen the pool of available skills. But the complex issue of increasing migration and the skills challenges faced by migrant workers and employers is huge. So how can we help migrant workers acquire the skills they need to find decent jobs, and employers find the skilled migrant workers they need for their enterprises? And what is the ILO doing to address this question, both in destination countries and countries of origin? In this episode, the ILO’s Christine Hofmann, Regional Skills Specialist for Africa, addresses these issues and the policy response.

    22 min
  2. The trillion-dollar question: does rising productivity lift all boats?

    NOV 20

    The trillion-dollar question: does rising productivity lift all boats?

    Productivity growth is seen as central to economic development and social progress and drives up wages, living standards for workers and the competitiveness of businesses. So, how are different regions and countries increasing productivity, and can it be done in an inclusive way? In this podcast Professor Gaaitzen De Vries in the Department of Global Economics and Management of the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and Luca Fedi, Employment specialist of the ILO Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work project, explore this issue and why it matters.

    20 min
  3. Challenges and opportunities of an ageing workforce: A worker’s perspective

    SEP 29

    Challenges and opportunities of an ageing workforce: A worker’s perspective

    The number of ageing workers in the workforce is growing. People are working longer, either because they want to, they need to to make ends meet or have because they have unique skills. So, what are the implications of this trend for the trade union movement? What does it mean for older workers and their representatives? And how can trade unions address the multiple challenges that are emerging as the workforce ages? In this podcast we explore these trends with Plamen Dimitrov, President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria and member of the Workers’ Group of the ILO Governing Body.

    18 min
  4. The Silver Tsunami: Are older workers the wave of the future?

    JUN 17

    The Silver Tsunami: Are older workers the wave of the future?

    There’s a new trend in the world of work…the growth of an ageing workforce. It’s called the “Silver Tsunami’, and it means more people are working past retirement age, either because they want to or because they must, to make ends meet. So, what are the implications of this trend? What does it mean for retirement plans and social security? And what does it mean for employers and enterprises faced with an ageing workforce? In this podcast we’ll be talking two experts on ageing in the workplace: Roberto Suárez Santos, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), and Dorothea Schmidt-Klau, Chief of the Employment, Labour Markets and Youth Branch, in the ILO’s Employment Policy Department.

    20 min
  5. Micro-credentials: Powerful new learning tool, or just “pouring old wine into new bottles”?

    MAY 12

    Micro-credentials: Powerful new learning tool, or just “pouring old wine into new bottles”?

    An explosion of online and micro-credential programmes since COVID-19 highlights the importance of lifelong learning to upskilling, reskilling and economic recovery. While these learning courses may help successfully train and equip large numbers of workers with the skills needed for the jobs of the future, they also raise several questions. In this podcast we explore the future of micro-credentialing with two experts on learning and skills development, Pedro Moreno Da Fonseca, ILO Technical Specialist on Lifelong Learning, and Anastasia Pouliou, Expert in Qualifications and credentials - Future of Vocational Education and Training (VET), and Lead Researcher on Micro-credentials at the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, known as Cedefop.

    24 min
  6. Addressing major labour market challenges in the world of work: Implications for promoting jobs

    APR 10

    Addressing major labour market challenges in the world of work: Implications for promoting jobs

    The world of work is being buffeted by a torrent of change, with multiple crises raising the magnitude and complexity of employment challenges to unprecedented levels. Labour markets have been hit by disruptive mega-trends that weren’t on our radar just a decade ago. These range from challenges we already know like gender disparities, informality and youth unemployment, to new and emerging issues, like climate change, increasing digitalization and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. So how does this impact national employment policies for promoting employment? In this podcast, we interview ILO Employment Policy Expert Sher Verick on this subject.

    16 min
  7. Tackling gender segregation: How a new policy tool can finally help bring about change

    MAR 5

    Tackling gender segregation: How a new policy tool can finally help bring about change

    In the world of work, men and women are often segregated by their type of work, one of the main reasons women suffered more job losses during the COVID-19 crisis than men and are facing a slower recovery. Now, a joint programme of UN Women and the ILO has developed a new tool to help policymakers rethink the design of sectoral policies and make informed decisions on where to invest to have a greater impact on gender equality. In this podcast Valeria Esquivel, Employment Policies and Gender Specialist at the ILO and Marzia Fontana, a Research Associate at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex explain how.

    13 min
  8. SPECIAL EPISODE: Malaysia's rubber industry takes on forced labour.

    MAR 1

    SPECIAL EPISODE: Malaysia's rubber industry takes on forced labour.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, global demand for rubber gloves soared, prompting the Malaysian rubber industry to increase production in the face of labour shortages. Forced labour reports led, among other things, to the United States seizing and holding the goods of seven Malaysian companies. In response, the sector adopted a zero recruitment fee model and reimbursed migrant workers, making significant progress in combating forced labour in just four years. This podcast episode takes an in-depth look at how Malaysian rubber businesses managed to change things for the better and shares tips, tools, and resources for businesses. For more information, and for free tools and resources please visit https://flbusiness.network/new-podcast-tackling-forced-labour-malaysia-rubber-industry/

    53 min
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About

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations and is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity. Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent work and the economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress. Its tripartite structure provides a unique platform for promoting decent work for all women and men. Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

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