ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations
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| Modes of Control: A Labour-Status Approach to Decent Work
Guy Standing, November 2000 The ILO has launched a slogan - decent work. Although dignified work might be a better term, work is a better word than labour, because it embraces all creative and productive activity. But what constitutes good work? There are, of course, various elements, most of which are not discussed in this paper. However, a crucial aspect of work in its positive sense is autonomy, the absence of externally imposed controls or at least the opportunity to avoid or lessen such controls. Good work is necessarily disciplined work, but it is self-discipline that must have the primary role. During the 21st century, the ideal to which societies should move towards is a set of circumstances in which more and more people can pursue their own sense of occupation, blending a variety of activities, formal and informal. To move in that direction, it is necessary to combat the various controls that characterize labour.
The trouble is that in discussions of labour and work, we have not given much attention to the conceptualisation of control, let alone the measurement of it. This paper is a rather dry and austere attempt to think through the issues.
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Created by LD. Approved by GS. Last update 1 February 2001