COVID-19 has thrown a spotlight on companies’ treatment of low-paid workers. Many such workers still lack the social protections, such as sick pay or medical benefits, which are essential if they become ill. The virus has disproportionately affected those on low incomes, women, young people and ethnic minorities, exposing and exacerbating existing inequalities. Meanwhile the critical role many of these workers play in ensuring our societies can operate, specifically in sectors such as healthcare and food distribution, has also been highlighted, with many designated key workers.
Whilst it has come to particular prominence over recent months, the issues related to changes to work patterns and security of work have been building in all advanced economies in recent years.
This briefing intends to build the case that the growth of such work practices has been driven, willingly or not, by investor demands for shareholder value and that investors should therefore be considering and engaging with companies on how their workforce policies and practices might be driving greater insecure work.
The Green Economy Report is compiled by UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative in collaboration with economists and experts worldwide.
Released to mark the African launch of the 2012 UN International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, this report is based on a survey of 38 mostly private sector institutions involved in energy infrastructure finance in developing countries.