World Day for Decent Work — 7 October 2026

Over the years, decent work has established itself as an essential prerequisite for economic and social progress. Improvements in labour legislation, the gradual extension of social protection, the recognition of workers’ rights and policies promoting employment have led to significant progress in many countries. These advances have reinforced a fundamental conviction: development depends not only on job creation, but on everyone having the opportunity to access productive work that is fairly remunerated and carried out with dignity, safety and equal treatment.

However, these advances remain deeply uneven. Unemployment and underemployment, job insecurity, the informal sector, low pay, inadequate social protection and discrimination continue to limit the prospects of millions of workers. Young people in particular face difficulties in gaining access to a stable first job and to conditions that enable them to build a sustainable future. Having a job therefore does not always mean having decent work. When a job keeps a person in poverty, or exposes them to insecurity or discrimination, it cannot fully fulfil its role in empowering and developing them.

To mark this World Day, the World Association for Development calls for the strengthening of policies that effectively broaden access to employment, combat all forms of workplace discrimination, support the integration of young people into the labour market, and guarantee working conditions that ensure safety, protection and prospects for career progression. For the WDA, decent work is a means of reducing poverty, strengthening people’s autonomy, supporting economic activity and consolidating social cohesion. Creating more jobs remains essential; ensuring that these jobs genuinely enable people to live with dignity and participate in the sustainable development of their society is the key requirement.

 

7 October 2026

Executive President

Hugues B. GNIMADI

World Association for Development — AMD
Let us work towards the sustainable development of peoples and communities