Abstract
Awarded the Nobel Prize for economics in 1998, Amartya Sen is a creative author who explores the boundaries between economics and philosophy. In “Work and rights”, which is reproduced here, the author examines four conceptual features of “decent work” that are essential to its achievement in a context of globalization. First is an inclusive and universal approach, not just focusing on some categories of workers. The second feature is rights-based thinking, acknowledging certain basic rights that transcend legal recognition. The third consists in placing work within a broad economic, political and social context, one that includes democratic values. And fourth, the extension of thinking from international to the truly global.