Publication

Can better working conditions improve the performance of SMEs? :An international literature review

23 October 2013

This study reviews the literature on the link between working conditions, safety and health, skills development and productivity in SMEs, revealing evidence of an association between good workplace practices and various types of positive enterprise-level outcomes, including reduced employee turnover and improved profitability.

Event

Launch Ceremony for Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) Phase II

A launch ceremony for SCORE Phase II is to be hosted by the Director-General on 23 October 2013

News

A new milestone towards an international statistical definition of green jobs

17 October 2013

At the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) held from 2 to 11 October in Geneva, Switzerland, labour statisticians discussed and adopted new guidelines for the statistical definition of employment in the environmental sector.

News

South Africa and Zambia launch new training initiative to create decent jobs in green building/construction sector

16 October 2013

In collaboration with the ILO, government and representatives from South Africa and Zambia kick-started a regional green business management training programme. The programme aims at enhancing competitiveness and promoting sustainable business and decent work among medium, small and micro enterprises(MSMEs)of the building/construction sector.

Publication

Impact Insurance Research Paper #35: Literature review on the impact of microinsurance

01 October 2013

Research paper #35 provides a selective overview of the current state of research on the impact of microinsurance. Its key purpose is to explore the role played by insurance in developing countries. In reviewing the most recent literature about the impact of microinsurance in developing countries, special attention is given to the issue of statistical identification of the impact, and to the need of highlighting the channels through which microinsurance affects the outcomes. Although the effects of microinsurance are heterogeneous across the studies reviewed, this review shows that micro-insurance seems to achieve markedly positive results under specific provisions.

News

Green entrepreneurs showcase their businesses at a regional knowledge sharing workshop in Kenya

27 September 2013

The ILO Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (YEF) programme, which aims to create job opportunities for young people in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, organized a three-day regional knowledge sharing workshop for key project partners, stakeholders and beneficiaries on 9-11 September 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Survey

Cooperatives and Sustainable Development Survey: What have Cooperatives got to do with Sustainable Development Goals?

19 September 2013

Survey

Cooperatives and Sustainable Development Survey: What have Cooperatives got to do with Sustainable Development Goals?

19 September 2013

Issue brief

Cooperatives offer migrant workers options for better lives

19 September 2013

Cooperative enterprises have improved the lives of women and men migrant workers and their families for decades. Migrants find income and jobs, access affordable goods and services and find empowerment through cooperative enterprises, participating in the cooperative movement. Moreover, cooperative enterprises are facilitating economic, social and cultural integration or re-integration of migrant workers in both destination and home countries.

Publication

Promoting green entrepreneurship among young women and men in Kenya

18 September 2013

The Youth Entrepreneurship Facility (YEF) is a partnership between the Africa Commission, the Youth Employment Network and the ILO. Through training and business plan competition it promotes green entrepreneurship among young women and men in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda.