Resources on Occupational Safety and Health by industry/sector

  1. © ILO 2022
    COVID-19 and the port sector

    05 July 2021

    Ports provide key infrastructure in support of international trade and the global economy. They vary in size from wharves handling at most a few hundred tonnes of cargo a year to large international ports or multi-modal hubs combining a broad range of logistical services, from warehousing to total supply chain management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ports have had to adjust to the reality of lower volumes, worker shortages, the implementation of occupational health and safety measures for dockers and shore personnel, and the adoption of teleworking and remote operations for office workers. In some countries, calls by cruise ships have come to a halt. This policy brief summarizes the issues relating to COVID-19 and decent work challenges in the port sector.

  2. © ILO 2022
    Impact of COVID-19 in the meat processing sector

    09 February 2021

    The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to exert pressures on the agri-food industry both from the business and workers’ sides, with some sectors shouldering a particularly high burden. The meat processing sector is one of them. As the effects of the pandemic on our food systems continue to unfold, the learnings from the outbreaks in processing plants in several major meat-producing countries are catalysing reforms that should contribute to the sustainable development of the sector.

  3. © ILO 2022
    Impact of COVID-19 on the construction sector

    25 January 2021

    The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the construction sector, which is sensitive to economic cycles. Yet, on the upside, construction holds much potential to stimulate recovery, thanks to its potential to create jobs; and in turn, recovery measures can support the sector’s transformation towards sustainability and digitalization. Tripartite cooperation and social dialogue, together with international labour standards, are key to promote a human-centred recovery of the construction sector from the crisis.

  4. The supply chain ripple effect: How COVID-19 is affecting garment workers and factories in Asia and the Pacific

    21 October 2020

    This research brief assesses the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on workers and factories in garment supply chains in Asia and the Pacific, presenting evidence from the main garment-exporting countries of the region, summarizing policy responses and proposing ways forward.

  5. © The National Guard 2022
    COVID-19 and care workers providing home or institution-based care

    16 October 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the already overburdened and understaffed home and institution-based care sector in many countries. This brief highlights the challenges faced in the recruitment, deployment, retention and protection of sufficient numbers of well-trained and motivated care workers. Sustainable investment in health and social care systems, including in the workforce itself, and in decent working conditions are needed to ensure the preparedness and resilience of the sector in times of crisis and beyond. Ensuring that care workers, together with their employers and other relevant stakeholders have an opportunity to make their voices heard is critical if they are to play a full and active role in the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  6. © Mwasalat 2022
    COVID-19 and Urban Passenger Transport Services

    05 October 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unparalleled consequences to urban passenger transport services. The impact on the different urban mobility modes is widespread but a common denominator has been the decline of ridership across all modes. Urban transport workers are serving those who serve: hospital, care and other critical service workers. Yet, they can find themselves at the forefront of service provision during the pandemic and may be at high risk of illness. This policy brief seeks to summarize the issues relating to COVID-19 and urban passenger transport workers. The brief discusses the mains impacts of the pandemic in the sector. It also includes information on the tripartite and sectoral measures that employers, workers and governments have taken to support the sector and its workers, and on the ILO’s principles and tools, including international labour standards.

  7. © WaterAid 2022
    Hand hygiene at the workplace: an essential occupational safety and health prevention and control measure against COVID-19

    08 September 2020

  8. UN Policy brief: COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism

    28 August 2020

  9. © PJeganathan 2022
    COVID-19 and the health sector

    26 June 2020

    The COVID-19 crisis is drawing attention to the already overburdened public health systems in many countries, and to the challenges faced in recruiting, deploying, retaining and protecting sufficient well-trained, supported and motivated health workers. It highlights the strong need for sustainable investment in health systems, including in the health workforce, and for decent working conditions, training and equipment, especially in relation to personal protective equipment and occupational safety. Social dialogue is essential to building resilient health systems, and therefore has a critical role both in crisis response and in building a future that is prepared for health emergencies.

  10. © ILO Asia-Pacific 2022
    COVID-19 and the tourism sector

    18 June 2020

    Tourism is a major driver of jobs and growth. But COVID-19 has dramatically changed this. The impact on tourism enterprises and workers, the majority being young women, is unprecedented. Timely, large-scale and, in particular, coordinated policy efforts both at international and national levels are needed in consultation with governments, employers’ and workers’ representatives, taking into consideration relevant ILO international labour standards.