Developing Evidence-Based Alternatives to Dual Salary Systems

Abstract. The United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.5 aims to “achieve equal pay for work of value” globally by 2030. This goal conflicts with a widespread and continuing practice paying skilled workers from higher-income economies working in lower-income settings more than their host worker counterparts. brief summarizes research that has found dual salaries undermine colleagues' sense wage justice, motivation, team relations. At organizational levels, they fuel turnover, increase brain drain, reduce mental well-being workers. Higher ratios “double demotivation” – extending international staff who overrate own abilities effort at work. International, multisector evidence shows conventional be neither compatible nor align the SDGs. Organizational options meeting SDG identified civil society groups include reducing salary implementing single systems national level. We offer three macro policy frameworks (Project Fair's Principles Standards INGO Fair Reward, UN Global Compact, OECD Guidelines Multinational Enterprises) can serve render facilitative SDGs Decent Work Agenda.