Why and How Labor Rights Fuel Economies and Democracy

Did you know, labor rights play a critical role in sustainable economic development and resilient democracies? In recent years, the United States has strengthened its leadership on workers’ rights and labor standards around the world, including through an unprecedented “Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally.” A strengthened, empowered global workforce aligns with USAID’s goals of economic growth and democratic resilience, and USAID’s contributions to improving labor conditions demonstrate the power of working at the intersection of labor rights and economic development. 

Ahead of International Labor Day on May 1, this month’s edition of the DRG Learning Digest examines labor rights from the following perspectives:

• Empower Workers, Strengthen Economies and Democracies 
• The Six Key Components of Effective Worker Voice 
• Busting Bad Labor Practices