In 1999, the International Labour Organization (ILO)—a specialised agency of the United Nations—embarked on a mission to establish a new, universal benchmark for labour quality standards on a global scale. Against the backdrop of rampant globalisation, the concept of Decent Work was proposed as a comprehensive approach that went beyond mere quantitative indicators to focus on the specific qualitative conditions under which work was carried out. Since then, the concept has been instrumentalised through regional programmes and incorporated into the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The aim of this chapter is twofold: firstly, to provide an overview of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda; and secondly, to critically evaluate its effectiveness as a policy instrument and as a framework for global labour studies research. While the Decent Work framework represents crucial conceptual progress, operational and political challenges have limited its impact, suggesting a need to improve data collection and broaden its scope to include social and environmental considerations.