Introduction to The Governance of Labour Administration

This chapter sets out the key themes addressed in the book. It examines the meaning and scope of labour administration and establishes the importance of effective labour administration to the achievement of the United Nation's (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. The chapter also engages with the UN's principles of effective governance for sustainable development' and discusses the implications of the three key pillars of governance - effectiveness, inclusiveness and accountability - for national systems of labour administration. The chapter discusses long-standing and more recent challenges facing national labour administration systems, including the rise in non-standard employment and the COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasises the importance of effective governance in addressing these challenges