Pakistan, Jan. 15 -- Nearly 300 million workers worldwide remain trapped in extreme poverty, earning less than $3 a day, as progress toward decent work has stalled and labour market inequalities persist, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) warned on Wednesday.

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In its latest Employment and Social Trends 2026 report, the UN projected a global unemployment rate of 4.9 percent next year - equivalent to some 186 million people. Despite relatively stable jobless figures, the ILO said millions still lack access to quality jobs and social protection.

The report found that informality continues to rise, with an estimated 2.1 billion workers expected to hold informal jobs by 2026, limiti...