News

The latest news on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the world of work and the responses of governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations.

March 2020

  1. © Matt Ming 2023

    COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    COVID-19 cruelly highlights inequalities and threatens to deepen them

    30 March 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating already existing inequalities – from catching the virus, to staying alive, to coping with its dramatic economic consequences. Policy responses must ensure that support reaches the workers and enterprises who need it most.

  2. News

    COVID-19 Response: SEWA Cooperative Federation on health, livelihood and social protection strategies for immediate and long-term relief among informal women workers

    29 March 2020

  3. News

    The COVID-19 outbreak update from Legacoop, Italy

    27 March 2020

    This update provide insights on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Italian cooperative enterprises, and measures being taken by them to support workers, members/customers, and people in their communities affected by the crisis.

  4. COVID-19: Pandemic in the World of Work

    COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of our economies

    27 March 2020

    The Corona virus pandemic is not just a medical crisis, but a social and economic one too, says ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. If our response is to be effective it must take into account all these factors, and be delivered in a co-ordinated, global way. In particular, it must answer the needs of the most vulnerable.

  5. The G20 and the COVID-19 pandemic

    ILO welcomes G20 commitment as a first global step in responding to the COVID-19 crisis

    26 March 2020

    Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization, calls on G20 countries to work together to protect people, jobs, incomes and enterprises from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  6. © Chassenet / BSIP via AFP 2023

    COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    COVID-19: Social protection systems failing vulnerable groups

    25 March 2020

    Governments must use the momentum created by the COVID-19 pandemic to make rapid progress toward collectively financed, comprehensive, and permanent social-protection systems.

  7. © dronepicr 2023

    COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    Precarious workers pushed to the edge by COVID-19

    20 March 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all workers in some way. Those on precarious contracts or in non-standard employment are even harder hit, as many have no access to sick pay, unemployment insurance or other critical protections.

  8. © Johan Ordonez / AFP 2023

    COVID-19: Protecting workers in the workplace

    Almost 25 million jobs could be lost worldwide as a result of COVID-19, says ILO

    18 March 2020

    An initial assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the global world of work says the effects will be far-reaching, pushing millions of people into unemployment, underemployment and working poverty, and proposes measures for a decisive, co-ordinated and immediate response.

  9. COVID-19: Pandemic in the World of Work

    Working through COVID-19

    17 March 2020

    A strong social safety net will help mitigate the employment impact of COVID-19.

February 2020

  1. News

    Crisis-response tool to protect health workers during the outbreak of COVID-19

    24 February 2020

    The Chinese version of "Occupational safety and health in public health emergencies: A manual for protecting health workers and responders" is now available at the critical time of the COVID-19 epidemics.