2020 - The Index in Text - Explanation

Key Findings 2020

  1. Fair Wages
  2. Decent Working Hours
  3. Employment Security
  4. Family Responsibilities
  5. Maternity at Work
  6. Safe Work
  7. Social Security
  8. Fair Treatment
  9. Child and Forced Labour
  10. Trade Union

Methodology

The subtopics in a Decent Work Check (DWC)42 have been used to structure 46 questions under the indicators in constructing this Index. 46 data points are obtained across 10 indicators, each of which contains four to five binary questions. Each indicator represents an aspect of work which is considered important for achieving decent work43 . The scores for each indicator are obtained by computing the unweighted average of the answers under that indicator and scaling the result to 100. The final scores for the countries are then determined by taking each indicator’s average, where 100 is the maximum score to achieve. Each sub-component with four questions has a score of 25. For sub-components with five questions, the individual score is 20. A Labour Rights Index score of 100 would indicate that there are no statutory decent work deficits in the areas covered by the database. 

Acknowledgements - Teamwork

The WageIndicator Foundation and the Centre for Labour Research co-produced the Labour Rights Index 2020. WageIndicator Foundation, a Dutch non-profit established in 2001, works towards increased transparency in labour markets by providing access to minimum wages, living wages, and labour rights information. 

Forward - "It was way back in 2009, when a Pakistani scholar from Cornell University reached me online"

It was way back in 2009, when a Pakistani scholar from Cornell University reached me online. He identified himself as Iftikhar Ahmad, student of comparative labour law, and wanted to know why Pakistan was not among the 50-odd countries WageIndicator were working in at the time. Well, simply because we have not yet found a suitable counterpart in the country, my standard answer must have been. 10 years later, has culminated into the first comprehensive Labour Rights Index with global outreach, covering 115 countries in 2020 - and counting. 

Significance

The Labour Rights Index, while one of the many de jure indices, is arguably the most comprehensive one yet2, as it encompasses every aspect of the working lifespan of a worker and identifies the presence of labour rights, or lack thereof, in national legal systems worldwide. The Index measures decent work and provides detailed information on rights at work as well as the local legal framework for regulating the labour market3.

Linkage with Sustainable Development Goals

In September 2015, 193 states decided to adopt a set of 17 goals to end poverty and ensure decent work as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over 15 years. There are 169 targets and 232 indicators listed under these 17 SDGs. The Labour Rights Index aims at an active contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, by providing necessary (complementary) insights into de jure provisions on issues covered in particular by SDG8 (Decent Jobs), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions).

Data Notes - Labour Rights Index 2020

The WageIndicator Foundation and the Centre for Labour Research have developed a Labour Rights Index which looks at the status of countries in terms of providing laws related to decent work for the labour force. The data set covers 10 indicators for 115 countries. The Index aims to provide a snapshot of the labour rights present in the legislation of countries covered. The following assumptions have been used while constructing the Labour Rights Index. The worker in question: 

Description of Rating and Scored Questions

How does the rating works exactly? And how are the 46 scored binary questions, grouped by indicators. While recognising the fact that there will always be a divergence between “what is on the books” and “what happens in practice”, the Index does not consider the implementation of legislation; the scoring is based on statutory law only.

How to Read the Country Profiles?

The Country Profiles section shows a two-page profile for each of the 115 countries covered in the Labour Rights Index 2020. The country profiles are informative about the major aspects of labour legislation in an economy.

Appendix - Background