COVID-19 and the world of work

Regional and country impact and policies

The latest regional and country research, assessments, guidelines and policy recommendations relating to COVID-19 and the world of work.
  1. Super Typhoon Rai (Odette): ILO response for decent work and a human-centred recovery

    05 January 2022

    Since Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) hit the Philippines, the ILO has been working with partners and communities to place decent work and sustainable livelihoods at the forefront of disaster-response for a human-centred recovery.

  2. Recovery and labour migration in the post-pandemic future

    17 December 2021

    Thematic background paper for the 14th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour

  3. COVID-19 and employment in the tourism sector in the Asia–Pacific region

    18 November 2021

    A brief from the ILO highlights COVID-19 impacts on tourism employment in Asia and the Pacific that have left the sector reeling from job losses, deterioration in work quality and shifts towards increased informality.

  4. Supporting decent work and the transition towards formalization through technology-enhanced labour inspection

    21 October 2021

  5. Impact of COVID-19 on nexus between climate change and labour migration in selected South Asian countries: An exploratory study

    14 October 2021

    Climate change has been identified as the single greatest risk for achieving the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals. In South Asia, the world of work can be affected by various aspects of climate change including extreme heat, flooding or drought, or that can cause a rise in water-borne diseases, dengue or malaria, or bring pests that damage crops, among other disasters. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the risks to the world of work have been magnified in both rural and urban areas, particularly in the informal economy.

  6. Supporting migrant workers during the pandemic for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community

    18 August 2021

    Thematic background paper for the 13th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour

  7. COVID-19 and employment protection policies: A quantitative analysis of the Asia-Pacific region

    06 July 2021

    This brief assesses the implementation of employment protection policies in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis in 37 economies across Asia and the Pacific, including a country case study of the Philippines. Through both descriptive and econometric analyses, it examines policy and employment dynamics and outlines a number of policy considerations for the crisis recovery period and beyond.

  8. Is public sector employment a haven in the COVID-19 jobs crisis?

    14 June 2021

    It looks as if job opportunities in the public sector have provided a respite from the shrinking private sector during the dark days of the COVID-19 crisis, at least for some women.

  9. COVID-19 and multinational enterprises: Impacts on FDI, trade and decent work in Asia and the Pacific

    08 April 2021

    Multinational enterprises (MNEs) and their supply chains have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 crisis, with millions of workers suffering adverse impacts. This brief provides evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on FDI and trade in Asia and the Pacific. The brief also discusses the impact on MNEs and decent work and highlights how social dialogue can inform the design and implementation of policies to ensure a human-centred recovery.

  10. Recovering towards a human-centred future of work in Asia and the Pacific

    01 April 2021

    As the COVID-19 crisis lengthens and continues to impact on labour markets, countries have the potential to think big in efforts to revitalize their sustainable growth objectives and push forth durable solutions that will promote a fair, inclusive and secure future of work. This short document summarizes the elements of the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work that can help governments and social partners to navigate the crisis towards a human-centred future of work.