Sustainable Development Goal 8

PROMOTE SUSTAINED, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, FULL AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND DECENT WORK FOR ALL

The gap between economic growth and exploitation of workers is wider than ever before. On the one hand, globalization offers many opportunities for greater prosperity. Never before has so much been produced and consumed in the world as today – clothing, food or technical devices. Economic growth plays an important role in the fight against global poverty. On the other hand, more people today than ever before are living in forced labor. This means that they are treated as the property of others, either temporarily or for life. Around 40 million people worldwide work under these conditions in agriculture, the textile industry or raw materials extraction. Globalization also means that global production chains make it almost impossible to guarantee that there is no forced labor in a smartphone, shirt or cup of coffee. It is not only adults who are affected by work under inhumane conditions or for a starvation wage. Many families are forced to send their children to work instead of school in order to survive. Sustainable and future-oriented economic growth can therefore only be thought of globally and consists of two sides. On the one hand, it is about motivation, freedom, innovation and competition. On the other hand, it is about social and ecological responsibility. Sustainable growth tries to combine both.

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What are the sub-goals?

Maintain per capita economic growth in line with national conditions and, in particular, annual GDP growth of at least 7 percent in the least developed countries.
Achieve higher economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation, including by focusing on high value-added and labor-intensive sectors.
Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro, small and medium enterprises, including through access to financial services.

By 2030, gradually improve global resource efficiency in consumption and production and aim to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in line with the Ten-Year Program Framework for Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns, with developed countries taking the lead.

Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all people, including young people and people with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value by 2030.

By 2020, significantly reduce the proportion of young people who are out of work and not in education or training.

Take immediate and effective action to abolish forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and ensure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including the conscription and use of child soldiers, and end all forms of child labor by 2025.

Protect labor rights and promote safe working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, especially migrant workers and those in precarious employment.
By 2030, develop and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
Strengthen the capacity of national financial institutions to favor and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all.

How is the goal to be achieved?

SDG 8 will be achieved by increasing support for aid for trade to developing countries and expanding trade-related technical assistance. A global strategy for youth employment is to be developed by 2020 and the International Labor Organization’s Global Jobs Pact is to be implemented.

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More info on SDG 8 | Lecture Series of the Virtual Academy Sustainability