General conditions to stimulate job creation in small and medium-sized enterprises

This report is concerned with policies, strategies, and programs for the creation of sustainable and productive jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises. It reviews the general characteristics, potential, and problems of the small and medium enterprise sector, provides an overview of recent employment trends and reviews data on qualitative aspects of small and medium enterprise employment, including working conditions, safety and health, and terms of employment. It also summarizes international experience to date in creating an enabling environment for growth and development, analyzes the services, institutions, and programs which support the emergence of a competitive and growing small and medium enterprise sector, provides an overview of international labor standards as they apply to this sector, and surveys the roles of governments, employers' and workers' organizations and other actors in small and medium enterprise promotion.