According to ILO estimates, full or partial lockdown measures are affecting almost 2.7 billion workers, representing around 81 per cent of the world’s workforce. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly vulnerable since they tend to have fewer assets and more limited cash reserves than larger enterprises, as well as lower levels of productivity.

In March 2020, the SCORE Programme surveyed over 1,000 SCORE enterprises in ten countries to find out how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting businesses and determine what they need to stay in business safely. Of those surveyed, 57% wanted advice on how to prevent infection, and 50% wanted advice on business continuity planning. Based on this survey, the SCORE Programme has developed two new training and consulting offerings for SMEs: Occupational Safety and Health Training and Business Continuity Planning Training.

COVID-19 Safety & Health at Work

This Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training will help enterprises adopt new safety and sanitation protocols arising from the COVID-19 crisis.

The training focuses on the following:

• COVID-19 basics
• Why is COVID-19 OSH important for your business?
• Control Measures for COVID-19
• Using OSH Management System to respond effectively to COVID-19
• COVID-19 OSH responsibilities

The training includes a COVID-19 Action Checklist, which will assist SMEs in assessing risk and ensuring they are prepared to reopen safely.

COVID-19 Business Continuity Planning

This Business Continuity Planning (BCP) training will help ensure enterprises remain resilient as economies continue to experience shockwaves due to the pandemic.

It covers four possible topics:

• Increasing sales
• Reducing costs and improving cash flow
• Effective workforce management
• Optimizing processes

A SCORE Trainer will tailor each BCP workshop to the specific needs of the enterprise. After completing the training, enterprises will finalize a business continuity plan in consultation with management and workers.

After-Training Services

Both training programs include after-training consulting services that are available through phone, video calls, or in-person visits. These services will ensure SMEs have the support they need to follow through on the training.

Who should participate?

Enterprises with at least 50-250 employees.
We recommend 2-4 attendees per enterprise, comprised of management and enterprise OSH committees.

Time commitment

The COVID-19 Safety & Health at Work Training consists of a six-hour workshop followed up by four consulting actions over the following four weeks. In total, the training takes approximately 1.5 months.

The COVID-19 Business Continuity Planning Training consists of up to 23 hours in workshop time, depending on how the workshop is tailored. Up to three consulting actions follow the training over the next few weeks. In total, the training takes approximately 1-2 months.

Governments, employers and workers and their respective organizations have a crucial role to play in reinforcing the progress made in stemming infection rates by ensuring a safe return to work. These new training programmes will ensure SMEs have the knowledge they need to stay safe and resilient as economies reactivate.

About ILO SCORE Training

Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) is a practical training and in-factory counselling programme that improves productivity and working conditions in small and medium enterprises. SCORE Training demonstrates best international practice in the manufacturing and service sectors and helps SMEs to participate in global supply chains. Since 2009, the ILO SCORE Programme has been delivering services, via national partners (employers, government agencies and trade unions), to SME factories that participate in global supply chains.

For more information or to sign your enterprise up for training, contact scoreglobal@ilo.org