This study focuses on the concept of decent work deficit, which refers to jobs in which there are no qualifications to assess them as decent work, and the problem of working poverty as an indicator of this concept. In this study, the concept of decent work and the components of this concept are analyzed and it is pointed out how important it is today. In addition, the focus is on the decent work deficit concept, which is also the subject of controversy in the literature. In the study, it was aimed to express the relationship between decent work deficits and the impoverishment of employees and to draw attention to the importance of the decent work approach in the fight against working poverty. In this study, the descriptive analysis method was used as a qualitative analysis technique. The study focuses on the current situation of working poverty in the world, the effect of types of employment and employment contracts on the impoverishment of employees, and the risk of impoverishment of those working in the vulnerable employment category.

The changes and transformations that the neoliberal globalization movement brings with it are some of the inevitable realities of this process. When opinions about globalization are taken into consideration, it is understood that on one hand, the globalization process offers various possibilities, and on the other hand, it paves the way for some problems. Along with globalization, the occurrence of many factors especially in developing countries, such as the increase in the informal economy, the increase in unregistered employment with low wages, unprotected and poor working conditions, the increase in unemployment levels, the loss of power of unionisation and the lack of organization among employees, restrictions in public social protection expenditures, global crises, decent job decline etc. and the interaction of these factors also led to serious problems for the employees. Working poverty is at the top of this list of problems. Employment creation is not sufficient for preventing the working poverty problem. Therefore, the quality of employment created is as essential as the quantity aspect of these. Especially in the 1990s, the consequences of globalization causing unemployment and poverty started to be effective, and it was observed that objections against these outcomes began to be expressed loudly. These objections formed the basis of the decent work policy of the International Labor Organization (ILO). The concept of “decent work” expressed at the 87th International Labor Conference organized by the ILO in 1999 was adopted as a universal goal. Today, the need for decent work opportunities and global demand is increasing daily. In addition, the ILO has announced that there has been a decrease in working poverty rates, but this rate of deceleration has slowed down, while decent work deficit continues to spread.

The developments in defining decent work introduced to the world public in 1999 reflect the importance the ILO attaches to this issue and the efforts to improve decent work. Decent work is briefly defined as “a productive employment that befits human dignity within the framework of freedom, equality, security and respectability”and includes six dimensions. These dimensions are “employment opportunities, freedom of labour, productive employment, fair and equal treatment in employment, safe work environment and respect in employment”. Furthermore, there are four components, namely “employment, social security, fundamental rights related to work and social dialogue”, which form the basis of decent work. In addition, while each of these components is essential, there is also interaction between them. In other words, an improvement in one or more of these components causes a movement in other components too (this includes the possibility of a reverse movement). At this point, attempts have been made to draw attention to the cases which express the opposite of the decent work approach and this is basically conceptualized as “decent work deficit” by the ILO, and which occurs when one or more of the four components are missing or inadequate.

In addition to the fact that there are many indicators of decent work deficit, statistics on the problem of working poverty in the world have beenstated. In this context, although poverty is generally accepted as equivalent to unemployment, it is inferred that having a job today is not sufficient to avoid poverty. In this context, when countries are analyzed as income groups and regionally, it is observed that the number of people working in poverty is increasing especially in developing countries, although the working poverty tends to decrease proportionately throughout the world. Also, a significant part of world employment is though hiring informally, in insecure, low-wage, unprotected and poor working conditions. In addition, new types of employment have emerged inthe name of flexibility, which emerged in the neoliberal globalization process. At this point, it is observed that the impoverishment rates of the employees working within the scope of part-time and temporary employment contracts have increased in the European Union countries. This situation draws attention at a time when it is accepted that creating employment in the fight against poverty is essential beyond all question. In other words, individuals’ working with a part-time and temporary employment contract under current conditions is not sufficient to ensure that they avoid poverty. In addition, the ILO announced that those who work as self-employed and unpaid family workers, which it describes as “vulnerable employment”, have a higher risk of impoverishment. In this scope, it is pointed out that the number of selfemployed and unpaid family workers in the global employment figures is decreasing proportionally, while the number of self-employed people is increasing. 

In conclusion, while working poverty is also found in developed countries, it is becoming more widespread in developing countries as well. Excessive and/or medium/moderate working poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia region in particular is drawing attention as an important issue. In addition, it has been determined that there is a positive relationship between working poverty and working within the scope of part-time and temporary employment contracts and as well as the fact that the risks of impoverishment of those working in the vulnerable employment category are higher.