COVID-19 and the World of Work : Building a better future of work

The largest ever online gathering of workers, employers and governments will discuss how to address the economic and social impacts of the pandemic. The ILO Global Summit will unfold over five days and consist of five regional events and three global events.

• COVID-19 Crisis in Africa: Building Back Better

ILO support to the African Member States and the AUC to effectively respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the informal economy

As African countries and the African Union Commission (AUC) continue to grapple with the expanding impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the continent, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has been working with its constituents to help the most vulnerable workers and economic units cope with the necessary measures taken to curb its spread. Africa witnessed an 81 per cent decline in earnings of informal workers in the first few months of the pandemic threatening an approximately 56 per cent increase in relative poverty among them. This brief outlines some of the steps the ILO and its constituents are taking, in these first few months, to protect both enterprises, particularly smaller businesses, and workers, especially those operating in the informal economy.

Message from ILO Regional Office for Africa to mark the World Day against Child Labour 12 June 2020

Most ILO programmes implemented in African countries, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, are now taking accelerated action on protecting the health, jobs and incomes of workers. These interventions include a focus on more comprehensive social protection, while at the same time ensuring continued education for children.

 

The impact of COVID-19 on the informal economy in Africa

Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to take shape. While the delayed spread of the Coronavirus has given the continent some preparatory head time, the varying economic, social and political contexts are making it harder for the region to draw many relevant lessons from the responses in China, for example, or western countries.
A new ILO brief examines the informality context of many African countries and the emerging policy responses to COVID-19 in Africa.

Press release

ILO and ITU pledge to support job creation for young people in the digital sector in Côte d'Ivoire

Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, ILO Regional Director for Africa, and Andrew Rugege, ITU Regional Director for Africa, reaffirmed the commitment of their respective institutions to promote youth employment in the digital sector through the initiative “Boosting decent jobs and enhancing skills for youth in Africa’s digital economy”.