Coronavirus fails to deter ILO

Even as Coronavirus Disease 19 continues to rage seemingly without an end to it in sight, it also seems some are already beginning to look beyond that end, whenever it comes.

And this was the focus of the recent International Labour Organization (ILO) Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work held online 7-9 July, 2020.

The largest ever online gathering of workers, employers and governments with contributions from heads of the UN, WHO, IMF, WTO and the OECD, the summit discussed strategies for addressing the massive world-of-work vulnerabilities exposed by the pandemic and in particular, the needs of those working without social protection and in the informal economy; the promotion of full and productive employment and sustainable enterprises; ways of ensuring that poverty reduction, equality and combating climate change are core elements in the recovery process; and how the international community can recommit to delivering on the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Speaking afterwards, Guy Ryder, ILO director-general, said, “We have some very important tools to deploy, as we seek to get the world of work back on its feet. Some are very familiar to us, such as social dialogue and international labour standards. We also have a relatively new asset in our hands. That is our Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work. I think we are seeing just how valuable it is as a roadmap for us to find the way forward.

“I think it is difficult to overstate the level of common purpose, of determination, to overcome the crisis. To build forward to something better. From this everything else becomes possible.”

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres said, “This global summit is an opportunity for governments, workers’ and employers’ representatives to shape winning responses. It’s not a choice between health or jobs and the economy. They’re interlinked. We’ll either win on all fronts or fail on all.

“We already have a strong foundation for action and solutions, the ILO Centenary Declaration as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDG Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth. Together we can emerge from this crisis stronger with decent jobs and a brighter, more equal and greener future for all.”

“Our systems, jobs, livelihoods and the economy are intertwined,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization. “WHO calls on governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations in the health sector to develop strong and sustainable national programmes for the occupational safety and health of health workers. Together we have a duty to protect those who protect us.”

The first part of the summit, held July 1-2, had representatives of governments, employers, workers and regional organizations discussing the huge impact of the pandemic on their economies, labour markets, societies, different national responses, and their conclusions shaped the discussions at the global summit.

And on its last day, ILO Constituents’ Day, the summit provided ministers, workers’ and employers’ leaders from the ILO’s 187 member states a forum to share their views on how the ILO Centenary Declaration can guide action to support recovery from the pandemic and build a better world of work.

We can only hope that the work place will indeed become better due to, during and after COVID-19.