Summary

In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Schutter, observes that more than one in five workers in the world live in poverty. Productivity gains often do not result in better wages for workers, in particular because of the expansion of non-standard forms of work and the weakening of union rights. The Special Rapporteur assesses the human rights implications of the “working poor” phenomenon, in a context in which the cost-of-living crisis has worsened the situation of people living on low incomes. He submits recommendations to both States and corporations on the implementation of the right to a living wage and the right to a fair remuneration.