Ergon has written a background paper for the regular DFID  Labour Standards and Poverty Reduction Forum looking at the origins, scope and implications of the concept of decent work. Originating in the ILO, decent work has gained significant backing as a way of integrating qualitative aspects of employment, notably adherence to labour standards, with the need to create more jobs to combat poverty.

The paper looks at the four 'pillars' of decent work: productive employment, labour standards, social dialogue and social protection and describes how these can be integrated into policy-making. Its also looks at some of the tensions and debates within the decent work agenda, as well as the concept of decent work deficits.

With the incorporation of decent work as a UN Millenium Development Goal (MDG), it seems likely that the concept will be applied more widely as a guiding principle for poverty-reduction strategies.

More information can be obtained from the ILO.