(12 May 2020) An upcoming ILO virtual roundtable on the COVID-19 pandemic, will seek to advance regional dialogue on how Caribbean Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the organizations that support them can generate opportunities and ensure the devastating effects of the crisis are not put to further waste. The event will take place on Wednesday 13 May 2020 at 11.00 am Eastern Caribbean Time.

This technical virtual roundtable, organized by the ILO Office for the Caribbean will:

• Explore challenges Caribbean MSMEs are facing (with a special focus on labour issues) due to COVID-19 containment measures;
• Get insights into what governments and agencies supporting MSMEs are planning and providing to MSMEs to help mitigate the effects; and
• Better understand what overall policy and programme guidance the region can look to for crisis response, to prepare as the world slowly begins to ease restrictions, and to stimulate economic activity that is coherent with a green and just transition and leaving no one behind.

Featured speakers will include:

• Mr Lars Johansen, Deputy Director, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean
• Mr Esau Mohammed, General Manager, Kelvin Ghany Enterprises Ltd., Trinidad and Tobago
• Mrs Davinia Grant, Executive Director, Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre, The Bahamas
• Dr Kerry Hall, Director of Tourism Development, Ministry of Tourism, Barbados
• Mr Vic Van Vuuren, Director, Enterprises Department, ILO Headquarters

The media are invited to attend.

This event is part of a “Resilient with Decent Work” / “No Contagiemos el Empleo” virtual roundtable series by the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean to discuss the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, how it affects the world of work and to explore solutions.

Pre-registration is necessary to participate in this event

Media contact:  Shireen Cuthbert, email: cuthbert@ilo.org