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Can Flexible Jobs Drive the Future of Work? Lessons from MENA
By Carole Chartouni, Khalid Moheyddeen, Ramy Zeid, Rada Naji & Montserrat Pallares-Miralles
The evolving nature of work is prompting a global shift towards more adaptable and flexible employment practices. Work is no longer only a place you go to for a 9 to 5 job – it is transforming into a dynamic concept as an ever-growing number of people are gravitating towards flexible employment models, often referred to as non-standard forms of employment (NSEs). Growing evidence shows that as people increasingly value flexibility, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, countries are recognizing this shift, presenting new challenges for policymakers, and prompting them to implement reforms that foster environments capable of supporting NSEs.
However, NSEs face obstacles due to their unique nature of fluctuating income, instability, and administrative barriers that complicate their inclusion in labor and social protection systems. Let’s take a look at recent steps taken by countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, showcasing a proactive response to these emerging needs and setting an example that may inspire similar actions elsewhere.
Source World Bank
