The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has warned that persistent inequality is undermining global progress on social justice, leaving millions of workers excluded from fair employment and decent livelihoods.
This was contained in the ILO’s flagship report, The State of Social Justice 2025, released on Tuesday.
According to the report, global poverty has fallen from 39 per cent in 1995 to 10 per cent in 2025, while child labour among children aged 5–14 has reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. However, inequality remains entrenched.
The ILO noted that 58 per cent of the global workforce is employed informally, leaving the majority without job security or social protection. It added that 71 per cent of a worker’s earnings is still determined by circumstances of birth, such as country of origin and gender.
The report highlighted that the gender gap in labour force participation has narrowed by only 3 per cent since 2005, standing at 24 per cent. At the current pace, it could take a century to close the global gender pay gap.
“Social justice is not only a moral imperative, it is essential for economic security, social cohesion, and peace,” the ILO stated.
The organisation warned that without urgent reforms to ensure fairer distribution of economic gains and equal access to opportunities, vulnerable workers would continue to be denied dignity at work.
The ILO confirmed that the report’s findings would guide discussions at the Second World Summit for Social Development scheduled for November in Doha, and would also shape the Global Coalition for Social Justice’s efforts to build more inclusive societies.
