This paper discusses a unique conceptualization of work that was found to rest on ancient cultural skills of indigenous people that was found to be "sustainable." In this presentation, I describe the concept of sustainable work, grounded in its cultural context.
As the modern world of work grapples with the many difficulties that are a part of working in today's time, there is a need to explore other forms of working that are more sustainable in nature. An alternate approach comes from work in the informal economy of indigenous people. Indigenous approaches to work and life are in harmony with nature , considering nature and the environment not a tool for exploitation and consumption but to revere and live in tandem with. In researching the work-experiences of informal workers in rural and remote parts of India, a unique conceptualization of work was discovered, that was truly psychologically sustainable. Sustainable work is work that gives more than it takes to the community, environment, and nature. It is defined as work" which provides inherent meaningfulness, a sense of purpose, innate dignity, identity aligned with cultural values, that instils contentment and hope. It is free from the depleting aspects of modern-day work that lead to fatigue ,irritability, job burnout, and poor physical and mental health.
Sustainable work was unique in that it rested on cultural skills that was involved with creative traditional occupations. These skills were learned through informal methods (e.g., observing, practice, behavior modeling). These cultural skills are intergenerational that existed in the family / community for generations in an unbroken chain of intergenerational cultural continuity. The cultural continuity was a key component in driving decent work and overcoming the deficits of poverty. This paper presents lessons learned from an indigenous Indian culture that has implications for work in our time.