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Goal 8. Work & Economic Growth

ICT skills have already become a prerequisite for almost all forms of employment, and ICT capacity-building must therefore be prioritized in national youth employment and entrepreneurship strategies in all countries. It is not simply that most jobs and businesses now require ICT skills, but also that ICTs themselves are transforming the way that business is being done everywhere and creating new employment opportunities.

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Case study – Argentina

In Argentina, PROPET (Programa de Seguimiento y Promoción del Teletrabajo en Empresas Privadas) has been set up by the government to promote teleworking in the private sector, and offers financial incentives to companies that take on new staff under a teleworking arrangement. PROPET helps to ensure active social inclusion for all by promoting participation in the labour market, especially for those whose rights have been violated. The participants of the programme can balance work and family, generating an improvement in labour quality as well as saving time and money on commuting.
Related links:
PROPET and WSIS Stocktaking

ITU150 Story: Innovating with Mirian

How do we close the digital divide?
Although 3 billion people worldwide were online and using the Internet by the end of 2014, at least 4.3 billion people were still not online, 90 per cent of whom live in the developing world. Mirian Teresita Palacios Ferreira, Chairperson of CONATEL, explains how she is working to address this digital divide in Paraguay.
Read the story

Sound Bite

"Decent work is at the heart of the search for dignity for the individual, stability for the family and peace in the community."

Juan Somavia
former Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO)

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Stats
Goal & Targets SDG-8

In 2014, over 200 million people were out of work, worldwide. Almost 74 million young people, aged 15–24, were looking for work in 2014, and the youth unemployment rate is almost three times higher than for their adult counterparts.

Income inequality is increasing, and already the richest 10% earn 30-40% of total income, while the poorest 10% earn around 2% of total income.¹

¹ Source: ILO: World Employment and Social Outlook – Trends 2015

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

8.1 Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries.
8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.
8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services.
8.4 Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead.
8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.
8.7 Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
8.8 Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment.
8.9 By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
8.10 Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.
8.a Increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries.
8.b By 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

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