News

The latest news on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the world of work and the responses of governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations.

September 2020

  1. © G20 2024

    G20 Labour and Employment Ministers

    ILO welcomes G20 commitment to inclusive, employment-focused recovery from COVID-19 crisis

    10 September 2020

    G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting Declaration puts the focus on decent work, women and youth.

  2. © dpu-ucl 2024

    Climate Action for Jobs Initiative

    New Climate Action for Jobs Board calls for a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis

    09 September 2020

    Labour and environment ministers, employers’ and workers’ leaders, and UN and development bank representatives have set in motion an “Alliance for a decade of action” on climate change, decent jobs and social justice.

  3. COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    ILO COVID-19 prevention checklist to protect workers in small businesses

    09 September 2020

    The ILO has devised a checklist so that Small and Medium Enterprises can assess their COVID-19 risks and put in place measures to protect the safety and health of their workers.

  4. Multi-donor programme

    ILO/Germany programme to protect garment workers affected by COVID-19

    08 September 2020

    The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is giving €14.5 million to an International Labour Organization (ILO) multi-donor programme to help garment sector workers in seven countries who have been affected by COVID-19.

  5. COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    Qatar introduces historic reforms to its labour market

    03 September 2020

    In a historic move, the State of Qatar has introduced major changes to its labour market, opening up a new era for workers and employers in Qatar.

  6. © ILO 2024

    COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    ILO welcomes Singapore port’s new measures to help seafarers and ease crew rotations

    01 September 2020

    Singapore has brought in new measures to facilitate the safe rotation of crews at its port, while protecting ships and the local community.

  7. Our impact, their voices

    Clean water for life and livelihoods amid pandemic

    01 September 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for clean water to prevent infection, while making it more difficult for some remote and vulnerable communities to access supplies. In the Philippines, an ILO-Japan project is developing better water supply systems, providing local jobs and promoting safe and healthy working conditions.

August 2020

  1. COVID-19: Pandemic in the World of Work

    Brou Sonia’s message about child labour

    28 August 2020

    Sonia from Côte d’Ivoire dropped out of school due to family difficulties. With the ILO’s support, she received training to become a hairdresser.

  2. COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    ILO releases checklist to safely reopen accommodation and food services

    28 August 2020

    Many countries are now entering a new phase in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, while at the same time managing the reopening of the accommodation and food services industries. The ILO has therefore released a practical and participatory checklist to help companies, workers and customers stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19 while mitigating the social economic impact of COVID-19.

  3. COVID-19: Pandemic in the World of Work

    Monique Flor’s message on child labour

    26 August 2020

    As a child, Monique was sexually, physically and psychologically exploited. Today, she is a survivor. Listen to her appeal for the elimination of child labour.

  4. COVID-19: Promoting skills development

    Instructors of Indonesian TVETs to shift from offline to online courses

    26 August 2020

    The digital transformation of technical and vocational education training (TVET) centres in Indonesia is unavoidable. The ILO and the Ministry of Manpower team up to build the digital skills of the TVETs’ instructors on the creation and delivery of online trainings.

  5. © Michael Coghlan 2024

    Public employment services

    Digital channels improve access to employment support

    26 August 2020

    A new ILO policy brief shows how public employment services are using technology to increase the help available to people whose jobs have been affected by COVID-19.

  6. COVID-19: Stimulating the economy and labour demand

    Hotel executive Kotchaporn shares how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected her work in Thailand

    25 August 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected Thailand's tourism sector. Hotel executive Kotchaporn describes how her work has changed.

  7. COVID-19: Pandemic in the World of Work

    Trinh Ngoc Hoa’s message on child labour

    24 August 2020

    Trinh dropped out of school at a young age and started to work collecting lotus flowers and transporting cucumbers. With the ILO’s support, he is receiving vocational training to become a mechanic. Listen to his message to world leaders about ending child labour.

  8. © ILO STAT 2024

    COVID-19 and higher education

    Education pays off, but you have to be patient

    24 August 2020

    The pandemic is making us rethink and re-organize education. Workers with higher educational attainment may expect to be able to find a job (and a quality job, for that matter) as soon as they become available. But is that so?