Effective social dialogue and cooperation between governments, employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations have proven indispensable to designing and implementing appropriate strategies and policies to address the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis and to building inclusive societies.
SSM had participated in the creation of the Global Trend Analysis on the Role of Trade Unions in Times of COVID-19 which first reveals the most affected categories of workers, workers in the most vulnerable situations and the sectors most hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, as seen by trade unions. It provides a summary of trade unions’ responses to the COVID-19 crisis and the progress made through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue or via bilateral interactions with governments in 133 countries, including one territory, during the period spanning March to August 2020.
Health and frontline workers are the categories of workers most affected by the COVID-19 crisis worldwide. They have risked their lives for others despite reported PPE shortages. Similarly, informal economy workers as well as self-employed and casual workers have been disproportionally hit due to the lack of protection and of income replacement or savings, the precariousness of their employment relationship and their exclusion from support measures. Lastly, MSMEs have experienced sharp decreases in demand and revenue if not the total discontinuation of their activity.
Women, young people, migrant workers, refugees and people with disabilities are the workers in the most vulnerable situations due primarily to the informal and precarious nature of the work performed, poor working conditions, exposure to violence and marginalization, and the lack of protection or support by public services.
Tourism, road and maritime transportation as well as aviation and construction, commerce and hospitality, and the entertainment and manufacturing sectors are the sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. Companies operating in these sectors experienced a temporary suspension of operations or stoppage of economic activities, restrictions in movement and border closures, serious risk of bankruptcy, and severe downturns with negative consequences on employment, the provision of services and the availability of raw materials.
This Policy Brief is primarily directed to workers and their organizations. Its main purpose is to promote a better understanding of the pivotal role trade unions have played in COVID-19 responses worldwide either through tripartite and bipartite social dialogue, bilateral interactions with their governments or targeted actions carried out in support of their members and society as a whole.
This brief also raises awareness about violations of trade union and workers’ rights during the pandemic. As such, it aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences and relevant information among trade unions and workers to strengthen their capacity to influence national policymaking and develop a longer-term strategy to multiply their impact at the national and international level.
You can find the analysis on the following link:
https://www.ilo.org/.../pubs/WCMS_767224/lang--en/index.htm
