News

This week, the UN High Commission for Health Employment and Economic Growth and the World Health Organisation launched a report on employment and economic growth in the health sector, Working for Health and Growth – Investing in the Health Workforce with 10 recommendations.

The report, co-chaired by President François Hollande of France  and President Jacob Zuma of South Africa , underlines the role that unions can play as a key partner in achieving a “fit-for-purpose health work force” and solving the looming shortage of healthcare workers.

The report argued that improvements  in the healthcare system must engage public and private sectors, trade unions, civil society, NGOs, regulatory bodies and training institutions. Cooperation between different stakeholders is needed to support investment and growth in the health workforce on both a national and international level.

The estimate is that 40 million decent new jobs in care will be needed by 2030, almost a doubling of current employment levels.  This presents an enormous opportunity to combat gender inequality and youth unemployment. 

The report finds that “respect for worker rights” is a “vital feature” of decent work, a critical condition in order to secure the growth of the health economy which will be needed for the future. Decent working conditions, fair remuneration and occupational health and safety are a necessity in order to attract health workers.  Informal and unpaid work must be converted to decent jobs, and we must stop the transition of full time jobs into informal ones.

“The evidence is clear – unions can, and must, play an essential part in transforming the care system so that it will be fit for purpose.” said UNI Global Union deputy general secretary Christy Hoffman.

“UNI Global Union affiliates such as FATSA in Argentina are leading the way offering by offering  transformative training which the report finds to be so crucial in order to meet the health care needs of the future. “

Director of UNICARE, Adrian Durtschi said, “The best way to improve working terms and conditions is for workers to have a voice on the job.”

“With strong and effective unions, social dialogue and collective bargaining, workers are able to contribute to reaching the goal of decent work for all in the health sector.”