Approximations to the right to work from the Human Rights perspective

The right to work is a human right recognized in the individual as well as in the collective dimension in multiple international legal instruments of the international system of human rights. The Colombian Political Constitution (1991) recognizes work as a principle, as a duty and as a right. The concept of work, from the perspective of international regulation, the national constitutional system and of human rights, is more than the simple meaning of the word; this right involves necessarily the dignity of work. Taking this into account and on the basis of General Comment No. 18 issued by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights related to the right to work, the main content of this right was identified and some legal obligations of States were established in order to insure its effectiveness.