284 million workers still in extreme poverty —ILO

Global labour markets remain broadly stable, but millions of workers continue to face deep structural challenges, the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, has said.

Speaking at the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring meetings in Washington, D.C., Houngbo said persistent deficits in decent work are undermining social cohesion and economic resilience.

“The deeper challenge is one of work quality and structural transformation,” he said. “Some 284 million workers continue to live in extreme poverty, while 2.1 billion workers, nearly 58 per cent of the global workforce, remain in informal employment.”

He noted that despite steady unemployment levels and continued economic growth into early 2026, labour markets remain fragile.

Houngbo identified rising sovereign debt, limited fiscal space, and heightened global uncertainty as key factors constraining governments’ ability to support workers and strengthen labour systems.

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He also warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is worsening existing vulnerabilities in the global economy and labour markets.

“The Middle East conflict is not an isolated shock superimposed on an otherwise stable global economy,” Houngbo said. “It is compounding pre-existing vulnerabilities and increasing the likelihood of more severe and lasting effects on the world of work.”

According to him, countries directly affected by the conflict are experiencing infrastructure damage, business disruptions, displacement, and insecurity, with negative consequences for jobs and incomes.

He added that the impact is spreading beyond the region through disruptions to energy markets, trade, and supply chains, affecting wages, working conditions, and employment in other economies.

Houngbo said low-income households, informal workers, migrant workers, and small enterprises are among the most affected, warning of increased risks of child labour, forced labour, and other decent work deficits.

He called for urgent policy measures to protect workers and strengthen labour markets.

“Effective social protection, support for livelihoods, and active labour market policy measures are essential to prevent vulnerable workers and households from sliding further into insecurity,” he said.

Houngbo further urged governments to preserve fiscal space for social protection and prioritise job creation and income security.

In conflict-affected countries, he said recovery and reconstruction efforts should integrate decent work principles, including labour rights, social protection, and fair working conditions.

He stressed that economic growth without decent job creation remains a major concern.

“Where growth does not generate decent jobs, where informality remains pervasive, and where workers lack security, voice, and protection, societies become far more vulnerable to shocks,” he said.

“This is why the persistence of decent work deficits is not only an economic concern but also a rights concern.”