RESEARCH REPORT Working conditions in a global perspective Working conditions Joint ILOEurofound reportWorking conditions in a global perspective Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number*: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 *Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. When citing this report, please use the following wording: Eurofound and International Labour Organization (2019), Working conditions in a global perspective, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, and International Labour Organization, Geneva. Authors: Mariya Aleksynska (ILO), Janine Berg (ILO), David Foden (Eurofound), Hannah Johnston (ILO), Agnès Parent-Thirion (Eurofound), Julie Vanderleyden (Eurofound). Project team: Janine Berg (ILO), Agnès Parent-Thirion (Eurofound). Research managers: Agnès Parent-Thirion (Eurofound) and Greet Vermeylen (Eurofound). Research project: Working conditions in a global perspective (170101). Peer reviewers: Duncan Gallie, Francis Green and Serge Volkoff. Acknowledgements: The authors wish to acknowledge the consistent support and encouragement for this project from the leadership of the ILO and Eurofound. They wish to thank the peer reviewers for their external review of the report and Sangheon Lee and Manuela Tomei (ILO) for their support over the years in making this project possible. This study was only possible because national surveys had been carried out. The authors are grateful to all involved in these endeavours and in particular would like to thank the national teams for their contribution to the report. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union Print: ISBN 978-92-897-1843-1 doi:10.2806/951806 TJ-04-19-259-EN-C PDF: ISBN 978-92-897-1845-5 doi:10.2806/870542 TJ-04-19-259-EN-N Geneva: International Labour Office Print: 978-92-2-132933-6 PDF: 978-92-2-132934-3 This report and any associated materials are available online at eurofound.link/ef18066 It is part of Eurofounds European Working Conditions Survey 2015 series. See the full series at eurofound.link/efs001 © 2019 International Labour Organization and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound). First published 2019. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under ILO or Eurofound copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders. Cover image: © Eurofound/Shutterstock/Vectorstock Any queries on copyright must be addressed in writing to: copyrighteurofound.europa.eu The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) is a tripartite European Union Agency established in 1975. Its role is to provide knowledge in the area of social, employment and work-related policies according to Regulation (EU) 2019/127. European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions Telephone: (+353 1) 204 31 00 Email: informationeurofound.europa.eu Web: eurofound.europa.eu International Labour Office Telephone: (+41 22) 799 6111 Email: iloilo Web: iloContributors China Yang Du, Professor, Institute of Population and Labor Economics, CASS Meiyan Wang, Professor, Institute of Population and Labor Economics, CASS Yanan Li, Institute of Population and Labor Economics, CASS; Capital University of Economics and Business Republic of Korea Yoon Ho Cho, Senior researcher OSHRI, KOSHA Kyung Woo Kim, Researcher, OSHRI, KOSHA Bo Kyoung Kim, Manager, OSHRI, KOSHA Kyung Yong Rhee, Professor, Far East University Turkey Gokce Uysal Kolasin, Bahcesehir University Centre for Economic and Social Research (BETAM) Mine Durmaz, Bahcesehir University Centre for Economic and Social Research (BETAM) United States (US) Nicole Maestas, Harvard University and NBER Kathleen J. Mullen, RAND David Powell, RAND Till von Wachter, University of California Los Angeles and NBER Jeffrey B. Wenger, RAND Central America survey David Gimeno Ruiz de Porras, Associate Professor and Director, NIOSH SWCOEH Occupational Epidemiology Program, Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics the Secretary of Work and Employment (formerly the Ministry of Work, Employment and Social Security) team consisted of Julián Labiaguerre, Julio Zelarayan, Héctor Paganini, Verónica Munilla, and Amanda Alvarado Martinez. The chapter was reviewed by José Francisco De Anchorena of the Secretary of Work and Employment, and Fernando Pérez and Natalia Gadea of the SRT, with the collaboration of Claudio San Juan of the SRT. Chile Maria Jose González, Programa Trabajo, Empleo, Equidad y Salud, FLACSO - Chile Orielle Solar H., Programa Trabajo, Empleo, Equidad y Salud, FLACSO - Chile Clelia Vallebuona, Ministerio de Salud Chile Uruguay Redacción del informe: Lorena Funcasta, Universidad de la República, Uruguay y David Martínez-Íñigo, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de España Análisis de datos: Martín Brun, Universidad de la República, Uruguay Sectors of economic activity cited in the report The sectors of economic activity mentioned in the report are based on the NACE Rev 2 at the one- digit level. However, for simplicity, the 21 NACE sectors have been condensed into 10 categories. When this was not possible, this is indicated in the text. Occupational groups cited in the report The occupational groups mentioned in the report are based on the ISCO-08 categories at the one-digit level; shortened forms of these categories have been used throughout the report. When this was not possible for example in case of insufficient observations, countries have collapsed occupational categories together and this is explained in the text. In most cases, the ISCO group armed forces occupations has been excluded when breaking down by ISCO group because of insufficient observations. The respondents in this group have been included when presenting a total for all occupations. Sector Corresponding to NACE Rev.2 sectors Agriculture A. Agriculture, forestry and fishing 0103 Industry B. Mining and quarrying 0509 C. Manufacturing 1033 D. Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 35 E. Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities 3639 Construction F. Construction 4143 Commerce and hospitality G. Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 4547 I. Accommodation and food service activities 5556 Transport H. Transportation and storage 4953 Financial services K. Financial and insurance activities 6466 L. Real estate activities 68 Public administration O. Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 84 Education P. Education 85 Health Q. Human health and social work activities 8688 Other services J. Information and communication 5863 M. Professional, scientific and technical activities 6975 N. Administrative and support service activities 7782 R. Arts, entertainment and recreation 9093 S. Other service activities 9496 T. Activities of households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use 9798 U. Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies 99 Occupational group Corresponding to ISCO-08 group Managers 1. Managers Professionals 2. Professionals Technicians 3. Technicians and associate professionals Clerks 4. Clerical support workers Service and sales workers 5. Services and sales workers Agricultural workers 6. Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers Craft workers 7. Craft and related trades workers Plant and machine operators 8. Plant and machine operators and assemblers Elementary occupations 9. Elementary occupationsContents Preface vii Executive summary 1 Part 1 1. Introduction: Monitoring working conditions 3 About this report 4 Measuring working conditions in the world 5 The challenge of capturing real work situations 6 Relationship between work and health 7 Women and men at work 8 Measuring job quality 9 Policy relevance of working conditions surveys 10 2. Comparative overview 11 Introduction 11 Looking through the lens of job quality 11 Economies and labour markets 12 Physical environment 16 Work intensity 22 Working time quality 26 The social environment 33 Skills and discretion 37 Prospects 42 Earnings 46 Conclusions 48 Part 2 3. European Union 51 4. China 67 5. Republic of Korea 79 6. Turkey 91 7. United States 103 8. Central America 115 9. Argentina 125 10. Chile 133 11. Uruguay 143 Part 3 12. Conclusions 153 Bibliography 159 Annexes 165 Annex 1: Comparative overview of the working conditions surveys 165 Annex 2: Job quality coverage in questionnaires a comparative analysis 172 vList of countries and surveys vi Country/Region Name of survey Abbreviation European Union European Working Conditions Survey EWCS China China Urban Labour Survey CULS Republic of Korea Korean Working Conditions Survey KWCS Turkey European Working Conditions Survey EWCS US American Working Conditions Survey AWCS Central America Central American Survey on Work Conditions and Health ECCTS Argentina National Survey of Workers: Employment, Work, Conditions and Working Environment ENTETCML Chile Chilean Survey on Employment Conditions, Work, Health and Quality of Life ENETS Uruguay Survey on Working Conditions, Health, and Safety in Uruguay ECTSSU CULS is the main source of information for the China chapter. However the chapter also draws on the Social Status of Women in China Survey (SSWCS). Note on numerical data Numerical data in this report are rounded to zero decimals and therefore percentages may not add up to 100%. Sources: European Working Conditions Survey and national surveys for all figures unless stated otherwise. vii Good working conditions contribute to the well-being of workers and the success of enterprises. But unbundling the everyday reality of women and men at work is not a simple task. This is particularly true in in our changing world of work, where new technologies and new forms of work organisation are continuously being integrated into our workplaces. In order to understand working conditions, we must measure them. Working conditions surveys whether conducted in individual countries, or designed (like the European Working Conditions Survey) to compare experience in different countries allow us to do this by providing objective and comprehensive data on the degree to which workers are exposed to certain risks at work, as well as the attributes of the work organisation and environment that allow them to mitigate these risks and achieve their work goals. They provide information needed to analyse different work situations, including by job and sector. Data from several countries can provide insight into whether there are similar patterns across countries, and thus the need to look beyond specific national explanations and solutions when devising policy. Similarly, the existence of differences across countries can help shed light on possible national determinants of job quality and support mutual learning between countries. As a result of our shared commitment to the policy goals of decent work and improved job quality, our two organisations, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), have partnered to produce this report, Working conditions in a global perspective. We share the conviction of the importance of measuring, monitoring and analysing trends in working conditions. This report makes a unique contribution by providing a comparative overview of results from the most recent surveys on working conditions available across the world, covering approximately 1.2 billion of the worlds workers. We hope that this is the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration between our two tripartite organisations, as the challenges of our diverse but interconnected world are better served when we join forces to advance knowledge in support of evidence-based policy making. Preface Guy Ryder Director-General, ILO Juan Menéndez-Valdés Executive Director, Eurofound1 Introduction This report provides a comparative analysis of job quality covering approximately 1.2 billion of the worlds workers in the EU28, China, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United States (US), Spanish-speaking Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama), Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. It is the result of a pioneering project for the collection and analysis of data on working conditions around the world by the International Labour Office, the secretariat of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and Eurofound, both tripartite agencies that aim to improve working conditions and the well-being of workers. Policy context Job quality is increasingly recognised as a major policy concern. It is central to the ILOs Decent Work Agenda and to the European Unions Quality of Work policies. For workers, for the enterprises and organisations that employ them and for societies, there are benefits associated with high-quality jobs, and costs associated with poor-quality jobs. The policy objectives of improved job quality, decent work and a high level of worker well-being can be supported by reliable data on working conditions. Working conditions surveys quantify the extent to which workers are exposed to certain risks at work, as well as the resources workers have to mitigate these risks. They permit analysis of different work situations, including analysis by occupation and sector, and allow researchers to examine the possible effects of changes in the world of work on job quality. They also allow monitoring of progress on working conditions. Comparable data are needed to support evidence- based policymaking on job quality. Key findings The report analyses seven dimensions of job quality: the physical environment, work intensity, working time quality, the social environment, skills and development, prospects, and earnings. While there are important differences across countries on these job quality dimensions, there are also important similarities. £ Exposure to physical risks is frequent. More than half of workers in many regions and countries covered are exposed to repetitive hand and arm movements, making it the most reported physical risk. One-fifth or more of workers are frequently exposed to high temperatures at work; a similar but lower proportion report exposure to low temperatures. Between one-fifth and one-third