Social dialogue, based on respect for freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, has a crucial role to play in designing policies to promote social justice and buttress other measures by governments to protect jobs, incomes and companies. As in times of prosperity, tripartite and bipartite social dialogue in a context of crisis can contribute to effectively reconciling competing interests and building trust in, commitment to, and ownership of policies.
Since the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, social dialogue have played an important role in shaping national policy responses during the pandemic, in a majority of ILO member states. The ILO has intensified its support to the tripartite constituents, with a view to placing social dialogue at the heart of policy-making in crisis-responses, in line with international labour standards and drawing on best international practice. Numerous Briefs and other material on the role of social dialogue during the pandemic, covering a wide range of areas (Occupational safety and health at work, social protection, etc.) and regions have been released or are under preparation.
This brief provides a review and analysis of peak-level social dialogue practices in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak – from 15 March to 10 June 2020. It also presents observations on policy issues and possible avenues for constituents.
A new ILO study shows that most ILO member States made extensive use of "peak-level" social dialogue to shape their emergency measures for mitigating the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The principles of tripartism and social dialogue are key for social protection development, reforms and governance. Social dialogue and consultations with social partners and other stakeholders are particularly important for devising coordinated policy responses, including to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic, most countries have re-opened their economy and workers have been requested to return to their workplace. The present Brief highlights the need for social dialogue in order to ensure a safe return to work. It also illustrates a number of practical examples from across the globe where this return was prepared through bipartite or tripartite consultations, at the national, sectoral or enterprise level.
The International Labour Organization’s latest analysis of the labour market impact of COVID-19 finds its impact on the world of work was more severe than previously estimated, and offers three scenarios for the second half of 2020.
COVID-19: Relying on social dialogue for solutions
What can governments, employers and workers do to help fight Covid-19? They can work together. The ILO calls this cooperation between representatives of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations social dialogue.
The COVID-19 pandemic with its far reaching socio-economic consequences calls for effective tripartite social dialogue and cooperation bringing together governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations to design effective strategies and policies to address its impacts.
The latest ILO data on the labour market impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reveals the devastating effect on workers in the informal economy and on hundreds of millions of enterprises worldwide.