A Modern Employment Agreement for the 21st Century: Time for Action
A New Social Contract for the 21st Century: Our Group Proposes Innovative Solutions for the Rapidly Transforming World of Work
In response to the rapidly changing labor market, a report has been commissioned by the Our Group to highlight the need for a new social contract. The world of work is undergoing a significant transformation, with companies and individuals adopting flexible and diverse work methods.
The Our Group, recognising the urgency of this situation, is advocating for a new social contract for the 21st century. This new contract aims to build a social order that ensures decent work, sustainable economies, inclusive social protection, and fairness, while responding to emergent challenges from automation, climate change, and global inequalities.
The proposals put forth by the Our Group revolve around creating decent, climate-friendly jobs, ensuring comprehensive workers’ rights, establishing universal social protection, and promoting equality and inclusive economic participation.
Creation of Decent, Climate-Friendly Jobs with Just Transition
The focus is on industrial transformation towards net-zero emissions and strategic investments in the green economy, care economy, and sustainable infrastructure.
Rights for All Workers Regardless of Employment Type
Labor protections including maximum working hours, living minimum wages, workplace health and safety, and adherence to the International Labour Organization’s standards are proposed.
Minimum Living Wages and Equal Pay Policies
Statutory minimum wages will be enforced to guarantee dignity and promote equal pay for work of equal value.
Universal Social Protection
Social protection funds, especially targeting the poorest countries, will be established to provide safety nets for all.
Ending Discrimination and Promoting Equality
Race, gender, and other biases will be addressed through inclusive labor market policies and redistributive public policies.
Reimagining Societal Roles and Economic Participation in a Post-Labor World
Policies include experiments with guaranteed/basic income, housing reforms, corporate and tax reforms, and innovative technology-driven civic platforms to support displaced workers due to AI and robotics.
A Cooperative and Solidarity-Based Approach to Global Challenges
Cooperation across regions on issues like debt, climate crisis, social justice, and trade reform is emphasised as part of the broader social contract renewal.
Organizational Innovation to Meet Social Outcomes
Universities and institutions are urged to redesign their operational contracts to address social as well as technical outcomes, fulfilling their role in societal advancement.
The Our Group's report aims to raise awareness about the policy needs of today's labor market and seeks innovative solutions and expert views for the new social contract debate. A dedicated microsite has been created to anchor the debate about the new social contract for the 21st century, inviting all to join the conversation.
Alain Dehaze, the Our Group CEO, states, "It's time for a change in the way we think about work." Labour and social policies have not kept pace with the changes in the work environment, and regulation should be re-designed to ensure secure and sustainable work opportunities for both workers and businesses.
The Our Group's colleagues worldwide are looking forward to the dialogue about the new social contract. They invite you to join their quest for a new social contract for the 21st century. The microsite serves as a platform for the discussion about the need for a new social contract in the 21st century, aiming to put all forms of work on an equal footing and fuel opportunity and choice in the diverse world of work.
The report by the Our Group calls for a focus on the creation of decent, climate-friendly jobs with just transition, ensuring rights for all workers regardless of employment type, and implementing minimum living wages and equal pay policies as part of their proposed new social contract.
The Our Group's proposals also include the establishment of universal social protection, ending discrimination and promoting equality through inclusive labor policies, reimagining societal roles and economic participation in a post-labor world with experiments like guaranteed income, and cooperating across regions on issues like debt, climate crisis, social justice, and trade reform.
The Our Group's report encourages organizations, such as universities and institutions, to redesign their operational contracts to address social as well as technical outcomes, emphasizing the need to align labor and social policies with the changing work environment.
