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May 2, 2022

Anna Murray 

On April 29, the International Labour Organization (ILO) issued a 200-page report titled "Present and Future of Work in the Least Developed Countries," which calls for a renewed partnership with these countries as well as a set of global and national actions that foster productive capacities while also addressing decent work gaps, as proposed earlier by the UN's Fifth Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5).

The current state of development and the structural challenges that LDCs face in terms of structural transformation, productive employment, and just transition are examined in this ILO report. It examines current trends in production, productivity, employment, and decent work, as well as the role of social protection and labor groups. 

According to the report, digital technology adoption and adaptation, in particular, can be a critical component of productive transformation, benefiting practically all sectors of the economy and resulting in widespread productivity and employment growth. Digital services that aid in the optimization of processes and production, enable significant transformation of business models and processes, reduce transaction costs, assist enterprises in accessing information, reaching new markets, and potentially transforming supply chains are associated with significant competitiveness and productivity-boosting opportunities.

It focuses on the most serious structural and labor market weaknesses in LDCs, as well as how they have influenced the impacts of COVID-19 and the prospects for recovery in their economies and populations. A renewed connection with LDCs, as well as a set of national and global activities, are required to encourage a strong recovery in LDCs that lays the groundwork for long-term sustainable development. Employment and industrial policies, institutional changes, measures to create an enabling business climate for firms, investments in strengthening human talents and productive capacity, and improvements to work institutions are all examples of these. The report proposes a human-centered paradigm for resilient and inclusive recovery, which can assist LDCs in achieving a more prosperous workplace future.