Jobs, livelihoods and the well-being of workers, families and businesses across the globe, continue to take a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic; with micro, small and medium enterprises in particular, suffering the dire economic consequences, according to a new policy brief released by the UN on Friday.
鈥淭he听COVID-19听pandemic has turned the world of work upside down鈥�, said听Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres. 鈥淓very worker, every business and every corner of the globe has been affected. Hundreds of millions of jobs have been lost鈥�.
Vulnerable groups are particularly affected, including informal workers, young people, women, persons with disabilities, refugees and migrants, highlights the听World of Work and COVID-19听.
The report reveals the disproportionate and devastating impact on young people, raising the possibility of an entire so-called 鈥渓ockdown generation鈥�, which will likely emerge with fewer skills and smaller pay packets.听
In addition to young women, who are at particular risk, this also threatens to increase inequalities, both within and between countries.
鈥淲omen have been especially hard hit 鈥� working in many of the most critically affected sectors, while also carrying the greatest burden of increasing levels of unpaid care work鈥�, stated the UN chief. 鈥淵oung people, persons with disabilities, and so many others, are facing tremendous difficulties鈥�. 听
Economic reset
Meanwhile, high levels of informal work coupled with inadequate fiscal support for equal social protections, leave developing and fragile economies in the lurch, least able to cope. 听
A reset to the past is not an option, the report spells out, endorsing a recovery that tackles underlying deficits in social protection, unpaid care work, labor rights protection and risks associated with new technologies.
鈥淚t is time for a coordinated global, regional and national effort to create decent work for all as the foundation of a green, inclusive and resilient recovery鈥�, stressed the world鈥檚 top diplomat.听听
- Some 1.25 billion workers are employed in high-risk economic sectors, such food and accommodation; retail and wholesale; business services and administration; and manufacturing.
- While almost one in five young people are out of work through COVID, those employed have had their hours cut by 23 per cent.听
- Women are disproportionately employed in the worst-affected sectors, including caring professions, where they make up between 60-70 per cent.听
- Informal economy workers, who often lack social protection, suffered a 60 per cent drop in earnings in the first month of the crisis, alone.听
- By mid-May, 94 per cent of the world鈥檚 workers were living in countries suffering workplace closures.听
Three-stage approach
Against this backdrop, World of Work lays out a three-phased response, which recommends, in the short-term, keeping businesses open and jobs available. It contends that interventions be built on existing structures, while steering activity towards sustainable 鈥榞reen鈥� development.听
Without compromising the health of workers or becoming less vigilant in the battle to contain the virus, the second phase focuses on the medium term and encourages a structured restart of economies and a return to work.听
鈥淧rotecting health does not mean keeping enterprises and economic activity locked down鈥�, the report advises.听
And the final phase considers the long-term, pushing for the creation of decent jobs that support a green, resilient recovery and an inclusive future of work, that invests in social protections and increasing formalization of the workforce. 听
Looking ahead
Pre-pandemic fears over existing challenges, such as new technologies, demographic changes, climate change and globalization, were already fueling anxiety the world over, the report argues. 听
COVID-19听is exacerbating this unease by triggering unemployment, growing poverty, the tearing of the social fabric, together with political and economic destabilization.
鈥淭his crisis in the world of work is adding fuel to an already burning fire of discontent and anxiety鈥�, asserted the UN chief.听
While the world cannot go backwards to pre-COVID days, it can proactively shape a 鈥渘ew, better, normal鈥� in moving forward, according to the report.听
鈥淭he world of work cannot and should not look the same after this crisis鈥�, he upheld. 鈥淚t is time for a coordinated global, regional and national effort to create decent work for all as the foundation of a green, inclusive and resilient recovery鈥�.听听
