COVID-19 and social dialogue

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.

  1. COVID- 19

    Enterprise survey tool: Assessing training needs resulting from COVID-19

    22 July 2020

    This enterprise survey template is made available to employer and business membership organizations (EBMOs) so that they can assess the training and development needs their members require for staff. The survey will enable EBMOs to adapt their own provision of training to its members and support the development of a tailored curriculum with an appropriate pricing strategy. It will also provide an indication of members’ preference for virtual training so EBMOs can consider both short-term and longer-term investment in digitalizing training services.

  2. COVID-19 and the world of work

    Jump-starting a green recovery with more and better jobs, healthy and resilient societies

    16 July 2020

    As economies restart, there is an opportunity to develop public and private policies to address the current climate change crisis gradually and foster the transition to a green economy. The reconstruction of the economic fabric should lay the foundations for environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive production and consumption as we move into the future.

  3. COVID- 19

    A global survey of employer and business membership organizations: Inside impacts and responses to COVID-19

    29 June 2020

    In a joint effort to understand the real demands and challenges EBMOs are facing, the International Labour Organization – Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ILO-ACT/EMP) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) conducted a global survey of EBMOs. This rich information base, enables to assess the most pressing needs of EBMOs.

  4. Publication

    COVID-19 and the world of work: Ensuring no one is left behind in the response and recovery

    09 June 2020

    This brief is part of a series on leaving no one behind in the context of COVID-19 and the world of work. It provides an overview of specific groups that risk being left behind: people with disabilities, indigenous and tribal peoples, people living with HIV, and migrant workers.

  5. COVID-19: Relying on social dialogue for solutions

    Social dialogue key to combating COVID-19

    21 May 2020

    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.

  6. COVID- 19

    An employers’ guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19

    18 May 2020

    This guide has been developed by the International Labour Organization Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ILO-ACT/EMP) to assist EBMOs to provide practical guidance to member companies that have implemented “working from home” protocols for their staff in 2020 as an alternative temporary arrangement during the COVID-19 crisis.

  7. COVID- 19

    Safe return to work: Guide for employers on COVID-19 prevention

    07 May 2020

    This Guide has been developed by the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ILO-ACT/EMP) and contains recommendations for health and safety practices and approaches to COVID-19 prevention.The publication aims to provide general guidance and information to employers on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, to enable workers to return to work safely while keeping the risk of contamination as low as possible. It also provides ideas on how to protect workers’ mental well-being during the pandemic.

  8. Policy brief

    The need for social dialogue in addressing the COVID-19 crisis

    05 May 2020

    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.

  9. COVID- 19

    The six-step COVID-19 business continuity plan

    01 April 2020

    “This six-step COVID-19 business continuity plan has been developed by the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ILO-ACT/EMP). This tool is designed to support EBMOs assist its members during the COVID-19 crisis. It aims to establish the risk profile of an enterprise and the level of vulnerability to COVID-19 in terms of its impact on People, Processes, Profits and Partnerships (the “4Ps”) and develop an effective risk and contingency system for the business.

  10. COVID- 19

    An employer's guide on managing your workplace during COVID-19

    30 March 2020

    This Guide has been developed by the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ILO-ACT/EMP) as a general reference for employers and business membership organizations (EBMOs). The idea is to help employers manage their workplace during COVID-19: running the business, protecting workers, and answering some of the workplace relations and occupational safety and health (OSH) questions that are arising.It is based on resources, guides and directives published by the World Health Organization (WHO), governments, employers and EBMOs.