Introduction

Global sociopolitical developments including increased economic globalisation, the spread of neo-liberal ideas, the changing nature of work, the development of information and communication technology, and significant demographic changes have had a major impact on the nature of today's working conditions (Hyde et al., 2006; Kompier, 2006; EU-OSHA, 2007). As a result, psychosocial conditions in the workplace have been identified as significant emerging risks in the global public health agenda (NIOSH, 2002; EU-OSHA 2007). Towards the end of 2015 the UN launched the Sustainable Development Goals which it hopes will ‘free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and [will] heal and secure our planet for present and future generations’ (Maurice, 2015). Among the list of 17 goals it has identified the need to ‘Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all’ (Goal 8) as a key issue. This builds on the previous Millennium Development Goal that committed the international community to ‘achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people’. It is reassuring to see the UN continues to recognise the centrality of decent work for ensuring good health and well-being among the population. This is even more pressing when considered alongside the latest results from the Global Burden of Disease project which show that non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, are on the increase in developing countries. These diseases have long been associated with poor working conditions in Europe and North America (Wilkinson et al., 2003; Marmot and Wilkinson, 2005). Hence combatting these conditions and promoting decent work in developing countries will be key to ensuring a healthy workforce in these countries. Encouragingly there is evidence that occupational health and safety priorities in developing countries have changed during the last decade and there is greater awareness about psychosocial risks and addressing work-related stress, violence, harassment and unhealthy behaviours (Kortum and Leka, 2014).

Vulnerable and insecure employment

A first step to meeting the goal to create decent jobs for all must be ensuring that all workers have secure employment. Job insecurity has been shown to have a deleterious effect on the health of employees and their families in a wide range of studies (Ferrie, 2001; Wilkinson et al., 2003).