The genesis of the concept of decent work: From industrialism to the digital era

This article conducts a retrospective analysis of the genesis of key ideas that later formed the conceptual core of the modern paradigm of decent work, as formulated by the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the turn of the 21st century. The study traces how issues of fair remuneration, working conditions, social protection, and dialogue between labor and capital have been conceptualized in global economic thought, starting from classical political economy. Using dialectical and comparative methods, the views of key thinkers-from R. Owen, K. Marx, and J.S. Mill to A. Sen, J.K. Galbraith, and theorists of the digital era-are examined. The main vectors of the evolution of this category are identified: from demands for fair working conditions and wages to a comprehensive understanding of the dignity of work as a unity of safety, freedom, self-realization, and social protection. The scientific novelty of the research lies in justifying the necessity of synthesizing socio-economic and ethical approaches to rethinking the concept of decent work in the context of challenges posed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digitalization, and the precarization of employment. The theoretical significance of the work lies in systematizing the multifaceted nature of the studied concept, while its practical significance lies in developing recommendations for decent work policies in the realms of national employment and social security. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

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