New Delhi: The global economic crisis is expected to lead to a "dramatic increase" in the number of people joining the ranks of the unemployed and working poor and those in vulnerable employment, says the International Labour Office (ILO).
Global unemployment in 2009 could increase over 2007 by a range of 18 million to 30 million workers, and more than 50 million with the situation likely to deteriorate, the ILO said in its annual Global Employment Trends report released on Wednesday.
Based on new developments in the labour market, the report said some 200 million workers, mostly in developing economies, could be pushed into extreme poverty if the situation worsened.
"The ILO message is realistic, not alarmist. We are now facing a global jobs crisis. Many governments are aware and acting, but more decisive and coordinated international action is needed to avert a global social recession," ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said in a statement from Geneva.
The latest report said that based on November 2008 IMF forecasts, the global unemployment rate would rise to 6.1 per cent in 2009 compared to 5.7 per cent in 2007, resulting in an increase of the number of unemployed by 18 million people in 2009 in comparison with 2007.
If the economic outlook deteriorates beyond what was envisaged in November 2008, "which is likely", the global unemployment rate could rise to 6.5 per cent, corresponding to an increase of the global number of unemployed by 30 million people in comparison with 2007, it said.
Comments
0 comment