At the International Labour Conference (ILC), 181 countries' delegates have unanimously adopted a global call to action for a human-centred COVID-19 recovery. This recovery prioritises the creation of decent jobs for all and addresses the inequalities caused by the crisis.
The global call to action for a human-centred COVID-19 recovery outlines a comprehensive agenda. It commits countries to ensure that their economic and social recovery from the crisis is “fully inclusive, sustainable and resilient”, stated the International Labour Organisation in a note.
The first covers measures to be taken by national governments and their employer and trade union ‘social partners’, to achieve a job-rich recovery. This will substantially strengthen worker and social protections and supports sustainable enterprises.
A second set of actions covers international cooperation and the role of multilateral institutions, including the ILO. These organisations should aim of increasing the level and coherence of their support for national “human-centred” pandemic recovery strategies.
ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said, “Creating a recovery that is inclusive, sustainable and resilient must become a top priority for public policy. This resolution provides a clear and comprehensive way forward that will enable countries to convert the moral and political aspiration of leaving no one behind into concrete action.”
He added, “The effectiveness and resilience of the recovery from COVID-19 will depend heavily on how broadly-based and socially inclusive it is. Unless we specifically address the inequalities that have deepened during this crisis there is a very real risk that the economic and social consequences will cause long-term scarring, particularly for disproportionately-affected groups such as young people and women, and the small and microenterprises that provide most of the world’s employment.”
