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News in Brief 30 November 2022

News in Brief 30 November 2022

This is the News in Brief from the United Nations.

ILO data shows impact of cost-of-living crisis on poorest workers

Rising inflation has brought a striking fall in real wages in many countries for the poorest workers, according to a new report from the UN labour agency, ILO.

In a call for urgent measures to prevent deepening poverty, inequality and social unrest, the ILO said that global monthly wages fell 0.9 per cent in the first half of this year.

This is the first time this year that global wages have not increased, and the trend is clearest among some of the world’s richest nations where wages fell by 2.2 per cent.

That compares with emerging economies where real wages grew by 0.8 per cent, which is three times less than before COVID hit.

ILO Director-General, Gilbert Houngbo, urged governments to take steps to maintain the purchasing power of the lowest-paid workers, or else see the post-COVID recovery endangered and further social unrest made more likely across the world.

Guidelines unveiled for fair and ethical recruitment of migrants

Staying with the world of work, the UN migration agency IMO on Wednesday unveiled an ethics Toolkit for businesses that hire migrants, to ensure that their rights are protected.

Developed with Apple, the IOM Toolkit strengthens due diligence checks when it comes to the recruitment of migrants, guided by best practice recommendations drawn up by the UN and other international organisations.

The IOM Toolkit initiative – which can be found online and downloaded for free - is in line with efforts to ensure fair and ethical recruitment as outlined in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UN agencies fear having to cut food aid to most vulnerable in Chad

In Chad, aid relief to the most vulnerable communities may soon be cut, unless funding can be found urgently, The UN World Food Programme (WFP) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency have warned.

WFP needs $161 million by the end of the year to avoid having to suspend its programme to crisis-affected families in Chad, along with more than half a million Sudanese and Central African refugees.

The threat is particularly dangerous for refugee communities in Chad, which are already seeing acute malnutrition levels as high as 19 per cent.

In June, WFP had to offer half-rations to refugees and other groups because of major funding shortages, and there are now fears that any further suspension of food assistance will lead to children being pulled out of school so they can work or being forced into marriage.

Daniel Johnson, UN News.

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  • ILO data shows extent of cost-of-living crisis on poorest workers
  • Guidelines unveiled for fair and ethical recruitment of migrants
  • UN agencies fear having to cut food aid to most vulnerable in Chad
Audio Credit
Daniel Johnson, UN News - Geneva
Audio Duration
2'42"
Photo Credit
ILO