Work and conditions of work

This chapter examines the notion of the right to work, which has been incorporated into the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, but faces ambiguity in interpretation and application. The chapter considers the perspectives of both jurists and economists and discusses how the right to work has been perceived and used in the work of the International Labour Organization (ILO). It then considers the implications of variations in the content and conditions of work and reflects on the relevance of the ILO's decent work agenda in this context but concludes that conceptual and practical problems remain. The practical aspects of the right to work are discussed in relation to poverty reduction, particularly employment guarantee schemes, and with respect to the broader goal of employment creation. The chapter concludes that the right to work can make a useful contribution to strategies for poverty reduction and sustainable development but is unlikely to constitute their core.