Work plays a central role in human life because it secures livelihoods, social interactions, participation in the community and existential meaning. In the context of global economic changes — driven by globalization, corporate restructuring and digitalization — the nature of work is constantly being redefined. These changes have led to an increase in precarious employment, which has a negative impact on mental health, employee wellbeing and the sustainability of companies and communities. In recent years, the concepts of decent work and meaningful work have emerged as essential to the functioning of organizations and the well-being of workers. Although their interrelationships have been recognized in previous studies, there is a lack of integrated research, particularly in low-density contexts. The present study seeks to address this gap by advancing the understanding of decent and meaningful work in low-density areas in Portugal, focusing on the Algarve region. To this end, it examined the challenges faced by workers in these areas, including access to safe working conditions, decent pay, access to healthcare, rights and respect at work, opportunities for personal development, engagement at work and impact on wellbeing. Using a quantitative approach, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 118 participants, deliberately and appropriately selected, covering the five areas classified as low in the Algarve region. The data were analyzed using the PROCESS macro to identify moderating relationships. The results showed that higher levels of perceived decent work were associated with lower levels of burnout. This result suggests that aspects such as safe working conditions, adequate pay and respect for workplace rights act as protective factors against burnout. In addition, meaningful work acts as a moderator in the relationship between decent work and burnout. This means that for employees who see a high level of meaning in their work, the positive effect of decent work in reducing burnout is even more pronounced. The results also show that decent work can increase work engagement, especially when combined with the perception of meaningful work. The results underline the importance of ensuring decent working conditions to reduce burnout and improve overall well-being, especially in deprived areas. The moderation of meaningful work shows that initiatives aimed at helping workers find meaning and value in their work can enhance the positive effects of decent work, contributing to psychological balance and sustainable development in these regions.

Keywords: Decent Work, meaningful work, low-density territories, human well-being, organizational success, sustainable economic development.