labour rights

What is the IMF doing in practice to tackle inequality? Its main initiative has been a series of pilots that integrate inequality analysis into its economic surveillance of countries. This paper outlines Oxfam’s evaluation of these pilots and finds that they are not promoting policies that reduce inequality.

Development Finance International and Oxfam have produced the first index to measure the commitment of governments to reducing the gap between the rich and the poor.  

Economic inequality in Nigeria has reached extreme levels, despite being the largest economy in Africa. The country has an expanding economy with abundant human capital and the economic potential to lift millions out of poverty.  What makes Nigeria so unequal and how big is this inequality gap? Find it out and take action.

Vietnam has a strong record of poverty reduction, but today, increasing inequality is threatening decades of progress. To tackle the dangerous gap between rich and poor, Vietnam should urgently implement progressive policies on governance, taxation, public spending, public services, labour rights, and civic engagement.

This summary of recent Oxfam research in Morocco, Kenya, Malawi, Vietnam and Myanmar paints a picture of workers, mostly women, who are working hard but trapped in poverty producing food and garments for consumers.

What are the barriers to ensuring that a living wage is paid, and what are the root causes of low wages?

Oxfam’s Ethical Trading Manager, Rachel Wilshaw said “A year after the tragedy at Rana Plaza, the fight for better working conditions and pay for garment workers in countries like