The 2015 Human Development Report, released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lahore, urges governments to act now to ensure no one is left behind in the fast-changing world of work.
“With a Human Development Index (HDI) value of 0.538, Pakistan ranks 147th out of 188 countries and territories. Pakistan ranks 121st out of 155 countries in terms of its Gender Inequality Index: only 19.3 per cent of women reach secondary education compared to 46.1 per cent of men, while female participation in the labour market is 24.6 per cent compared to 82.9 per cent for men,” said the UNDP report.
It said fast technological progress, deepening globalisation, aging societies and environmental challenges are rapidly transforming what work means today. This new world of work presents great opportunities for some, but profound challenges for others.
The report, titled ‘Work for Human Development’, calls for equitable and decent work for all and encourages governments to consider the many kinds of work, such as unpaid care, voluntary, or creative work, that are important for human development.
“The 2015 HDR report is an urgent call to tackle one of the world’s great development challenges – providing decent work and livelihoods for all. With 64 per cent of its population below the age of 30, it is vital for Pakistan to invest in gainful employment for young people and ensure that the workforce adapts to the rapidly changing demands of today’s world,” said Pakistan UNDP Country Director Marc-André Franche.
South Asia’s HDI value of 0.607 is below the average value of 0.666 for the developing world. While there has been remarkable progress in life expectancy in South Asia, which has increased at almost twice the global rate since 1997, widespread deprivations persist. About 800 million people remain in multidimensional poverty in the region.
Youth unemployment in South Asia ranges from 3.5 per cent in Nepal to 28.7 per cent in Iran. Fostering education, skills and entrepreneurship can help to transform the labour market and access to information communications technology can help develop marketable skills and secure quality work opportunities. Yet, as of 2014, 1.4 billion people in South Asia still lacked access to the internet.
The 2015 HDR report urges countries and societies to promote decent work opportunities and sustainability by improving education, and social protection, particularly for vulnerable groups, and by engaging in collective action and protective legislation to eradicate exploitative or demeaning work.
