Introduction to the course

More than half of the world's workers are wage earners, yet many receive incomes that are insufficient to live decently, particularly in low-income countries. In response to this situation, initiatives promoting a living wage are increasing, including within multinational enterprises. In February 2024, the ILO adopted a common definition of the living wage, along with principles for its estimation and implementation, and received a mandate to support its constituents in applying it. Social dialogue plays a key role in integrating the living wage into national wage-setting systems. According to ILO principles, wages should be determined through collective bargaining or through a statutory minimum wage established within a tripartite framework. Strong social dialogue, based on shared access to information and respect for the autonomy of social partners, makes it possible to reconcile workers' needs with economic realities while strengthening the legitimacy and effectiveness of wage policies.