ETUC’s DECENT WORK & SUSTAINABLE GROWTH INDEX - Briefing note

ETUC’s DECENT WORK & SUSTAINABLE GROWTH INDEX

Decent work and sustainable growth are one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals which the EU signed-up to in 2015. The report prepared for the ETUC by a team of researchers of the highly respected Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development ASviS, led by Prof. Enrico Giovannini, measures progress towards the goal on three measures: economic wellbeing, employment quality and labour vulnerability (merged also into one overall index). 

ETUC found that economic wellbeing has got worse in the EU since 2015, while the situation has barely improved when it comes to employment quality or labour vulnerability. Despite being a leader globally, Europe’s development is far from being sustainable, is not sufficiently inclusive and fair, and is not fully compatible with environmental constraints. 

Key messages

1. No EU country has a sustainable and fair economic model to date and the EU as a whole is making ‘very slow’ progress on decent work
2. In 2019, 10 countries are still below the 2010 EU average, including those most hit by austerity
3. There is a trade-off between the EU’s development model and climate targets
4. EU member states can create a greener and more digital future investing RRF funds in social justice, people and jobs
5. EU member states should profoundly reform the EU’s Economic Governance Framework to support sustainable well-being and inclusiveness
 

Read the full briefing note below!