Pakistan Institute of Development Economics

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SDG-8 and post-Covid Pakistan

Publication Year : 2021
Author: Karim Khan
Explore More : PIDE in Press

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), comprising 17 inter-related development goals and 169 specific targets, provide a “scheme to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. Goal 8 i.e. Decent Work and Economic Growth is aimed at achieving full and productive employment while ensuring decency at workplace for all, irrespective of gender and social class. Though the plans, like encouraging entrepreneurship and skills, job creation, eradication of forced and child labours, security at workplace etc, are illuminating, Covid-19 has put a significant dent on the progress in this regard. According to a recent report of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the global slowdown amid the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a loss of 8.8% of global working hours in 2020 which is equivalent to 255 million full-time jobs. This loss is four times greater than the loss which was associated with the global financial crisis in 2009. It translated into both employment losses and a reduction in working hours for those who remain employed, with women and young workers as the worst hit class.

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