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.

April 2020

  1. © Alain Pitton/NurPhoto via AFP 2023

    COVID-19: Stimulating the economy and employment

    COVID-19: How social and economic sectors are responding

    21 April 2020

    The COVID-19 crisis is having a devastating effect on all social and economic sectors. In a series of briefs, the ILO analyses how the pandemic is affecting the functioning of these sectors and how they are responding to alleviate its effects.

  2. © Ryan Brown / UN Women 2023

    COVID-19: Stimulating the economy and employment

    COVID-19 responses must be built on human solidarity, ILO tells World Bank/IMF

    17 April 2020

    In submissions to the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank the ILO Director-General has laid out a four-pillar plan of policy responses to the COVID-19 crisis, that are human-centred and built on global solidarity.

  3. Article

    Preliminary analysis of a garment industry survey in Ethiopia on COVID-19 impact

    16 April 2020

    The ILO conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with managers from garment and textile factories in Ethiopia from 1-3 April 2020. Presented here are preliminary summary results from the conversations.

  4. COVID-19 and labour statistics

    Will COVID-19 impair the availability and quality of labour statistics?

    16 April 2020

    During this COVID-19 pandemic it is more important than ever to collect up-to-date labour statistics so that we understand the fast-changing impact on labour markets. However, since most countries rely on face-to-face interviewing as their main way of collecting data, many of these interviews have been suspended. Find out how solutions are being found to keep the statistics flowing.

  5. © Ploy Phutpheng / UN Women 2023

    COVID-19: Stimulating the economy and employment

    Which policies can help small businesses withstand COVID-19?

    16 April 2020

    The survival of many small and medium enterprises hangs in the balance as the devastating economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to spread. What kind of policies are needed to prevent these businesses from collapsing, and along with them millions of jobs?

  6. © ILO 2023

    COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    Young workers will be hit hard by COVID-19’s economic fallout

    15 April 2020

    The COVID-19 emergency is affecting almost everyone in the world, regardless of age, income or country. However, young people are likely to be particularly hard hit by the economic fallout of the crisis. Find out five reasons why.

  7. © ILO 2023

    COVID-19: Solidarity between employers’ and workers’ organizations

    In times of crisis, solidarity between workers and employers is paramount, says the ILO

    09 April 2020

    Past crises show that workers and employers need to work together to address the impact of COVID-19, says a new joint report from the International Labour Organization’s workers’ and employers’ groups.

  8. Video

    COVID-19 impact on Lam Viet Furniture in Viet Nam

    09 April 2020

    In this film, Nguyen Thanh Lam, Director of Lam Viet JSC, a SCORE-trained furniture manufacturer in Binh Duong province, Viet Nam, discusses the unprecedented challenges faced by the company during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  9. COVID-19: Country policy responses

    The world of work and COVID-19: How countries are responding

    09 April 2020

    As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll in many countries, the ILO is publishing a digest of the actions taken by its member States and their social partners, to lessen the impact on their economies and labour markets.

  10. News

    The socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in fragile settings: Peace and social cohesion at risk

    08 April 2020

  11. Video

    SMEs adapting during Covid-19

    08 April 2020

    Maria Satiaputri the owner and CEO of SCORE-trained Spa Factory Bali discusses how the company is facing COVID-19 and how it is adapting to meet the new challenges. Through workplace cooperation the company culture changed to become more flexible and adapt to new situations. Workers and managers are finding solutions together during the pandemic thanks to SCORE Training.

  12. Video

    SMEs adapting during COVID-19

    08 April 2020

    This film shows how one SCORE trained SME, Stranough Guitar Technology, based in Bandung, Indonesia is adapting its production and sales strategies during the current crisis. SCORE Training successfully changed the company culture and has created strong communications between management and workers. During the covid 19 pandemic, they are openly discussing company issues together and come up with solutions as a team.

  13. COVID-19 response

    Employment-Intensive Investment-Programme (EIIP)'s Response to COVID-19

    07 April 2020

    Rationale for EIIP response, summary of actions, and helpful tools and guidelines for partners

  14. © Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP 2023

    COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    Women health workers: Working relentlessly in hospitals and at home

    07 April 2020

    Women globally make up over 70 per cent of workers in health, including those working in care institutions. They are on the front line of the fight against COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic they are facing a double burden: longer shifts at work and additional care work at home.

  15. © Luis ACOSTA / AFP 2023

    COVID-19: Stimulating the economy and employment

    ILO: COVID-19 causes devastating losses in working hours and employment

    07 April 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic is having a catastrophic effect on working hours and earnings, globally. A new ILO report highlights some of the worst affected sectors and regions, and outlines policies to mitigate the crisis.