Guidelines on decent work in public emergency services

This guideline sets out principles and recommendations to promote decent work in public emergency services (PES), recognizing that “increasingly frequent and complex emergencies” require a diverse range of workers to operate under difficult and extreme conditions to save lives and protect property and the environment. Developed through a Meeting of Experts held in Geneva from 16 to 20 April 2018, the guidelines were adopted by representatives of governments, employers and workers and replace the 2003 guidelines on social dialogue in public emergency services. 

The document reflects developments such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, and the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205). The guidelines promote coherent measures for emergency preparedness and disaster prevention, access to the full range of social protection, and effective labour inspection.