True Nature Communications Inc. has revealed a shocking disparity in the global labour market. The Global South provides an astounding 90% of the labour powering the world economy yet receives only 21% of global income. This imbalance is not just a matter of economics but of justice, sustainability, and our collective future.
The study shows that in 2021 alone, wealthier countries imported 906 billion hours of embodied labour from poorer countries while exporting only 80 billion hours in return. This translates to a net extraction of 826 billion hours of labour from the Global South – more than the entire United States and Europe workforce combined.
The Global South contributes most labour across all skill levels and sectors, including high-skilled work. Yet, wages in the South remain 87% to 95% lower for work of equal skill.
This exploitation of labour has dire consequences. It perpetuates poverty, hinders sustainable development, and could also exacerbate the climate crisis. Workers in the Global South, often facing long hours for minimal wages, are increasingly at risk of heat-related illnesses as temperatures rise due to climate change.
To simultaneously address global inequality and climate change, we must create a more equitable world with fair wages and working conditions in the Global South. This approach would reduce poverty, enable sustainable practices, preserve crucial natural environments, and lead to more localized production. By empowering workers economically, we amplify diverse voices in climate discussions. Bold policy changes are necessary, including a global minimum wage, fair resource pricing, restructured loan conditions, and investments in education and technology transfer. While challenging for wealthier nations, these steps are crucial to prevent greater human suffering and environmental degradation.
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Bapon (SHM) Fakhruddin, PhD 