ILO sectoral tools and instruments to protect workers from the pandemic

Resource list | 09 April 2020

International labour standards and fundamental principles and rights at work

International Labour Standards provide a tried-and-trusted foundation for COVID-19 policy responses and contain key provisions to address the evolving pandemic and its impact on the world of work. States have the duty to ensure that the fundamental principles and rights at work and ratified international labour Conventions protect and are applied to all workers, particularly also during the pandemic. Governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations have adopted a number of ILO sectoral Conventions and Recommendations that are relevant to addressing the impact of COVID-19 in specific social and economic sectors.

Sectoral tools

Governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations have also adopted a number of ILO tools that are relevant to addressing the impact of COVID-19 in specific social and economic sectors.

Health services & public emergency services

These include ways to protect workers in health services and public emergency services – the workers that are the first to respond to the health crisis.

Agriculture, forestry & mining

The constituents have also developed tools to protect workers in primary sectors of the economy – agriculture, forestry and mining – and in shipping and transport. These have in many countries been designated as “critical” and continue to operate during the pandemic.

Shipping, ports & road transport

ILO tools for other sectors - construction, shipbuilding & ship repair, utilities, education and tourism

Many other sectors are affected by the COVID-19 crisis as well. The tools the ILO has developed for construction, shipbuilding and ship repair, utilities and education can help save lives as well.