
It's people, not technology, that will decide the future of work
Technology can help improve lives for workers, or lead us back to "feudalism" - it's up to us, argues the head of the International Trade Union Confederation
Since 2010, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the largest trade union confederation in the world. Began career as a teacher and became involved in labour activism as a community organizer for teachers’ unions in Australia until eventually being elected as Vice-President of Education International. Committed to the rights of workers around the world. Former Member: Governing Body, International Labour Organization; Stakeholder Council, Global Reporting Initiative. Steward of Shaping the Future of New Economy and Society, Shaping the Future of Gender, Education and Work and Shaping the Future of Global Public Goods and Member, Global Future Council on Advanced Manufacturing, World Economic Forum. Engaged on issues of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its impact on workers. 2020, will co-chair the World Economic Forum’s first Global Technology Governance Summit.
Technology can help improve lives for workers, or lead us back to "feudalism" - it's up to us, argues the head of the International Trade Union Confederation
Global GDP has trebled since 1980, yet labour income share has declined. A new social contract based on full employment and decent work would rebuild trust and restore genuine democracies.
Some 85% of the world’s workforce want the rules of the global economy rewritten, at a time of intense risk.
Some 84% of people believe that the minimum wage in their country is too low to guarantee a decent life.
"There are no jobs on a dead planet," says Sharan Burrow.
When women are expected to bear the burden of unpaid work, everyone loses, writes Sharan Burrow, head of the ITUC.
A new model of business and economic development must ensure everybody's sons and daughters are treated as we would expect our own to be.
From climate change to migration, many of this year's global risks are already affecting people everywhere.