Co-funded by the European Union

International social dialogue in action: “ILO Global Summit on COVID-19 and the World of Work - Building a better future of work”

  • ILO Constituents will virtually meet to discuss the challenges and responses of countries still in the midst of the pandemic, as well as those that have started the recovery phase.

A virtual International Labour Organisation (ILO) Global Summit will take place between 1-9 July 2020 to “provide a high-profile platform for government, employer and worker representatives, and other high-level actors, to address the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic”. Regional events will be followed by an international discussion, based on the ILO concept note of the event.

The International Organization of Employers (IOE) as the Secretariat of the Employers in the ILO with the support of the Bureau for Employers’ Activities of the ILO (ACT/EMP), is coordinating the Employers’ contributions to the Summit.

The Summit will be an opportunity for employers to articulate their needs and private sector perspectives for a fast, sustainable and inclusive recovery based on the following ten messages:

  1. Private sector led economic growth is the best path to sustainable and inclusive recovery
  2. Focus on business continuity and recovery
  3. Ensure an enabling environment for business development and resilience
  4. Ensure actions to protect and promote productive employment and incomes
  5. Take determined actions to address challenges occasioned by informality and look for an array of innovative solutions that include transitions from informality to formality
  6. Importance of strategies for safe and successful return to work
  7. Invest in skills and life-long learning, with active involvement of employers’ organisations in the governance of skills systems in order to ensure that the supply of skills responds to labour market needs
  8. Build sustainable social protection that enables innovative thinking to lead
  9. The ILO has a central role to play in assisting tripartite constituents navigate the crisis and recover from it in a sustainable manner
  10. Determined collaboration between the public and the private sector is more important than ever

In particular, it is of general recognition among employers that to favour business continuity and economic recovery, public policies need to be directed to build a vibrant and productive private sector, as well as at the removal of barriers to financial aid and ensuring that fiscal and monetary policies address the need of the private sector. “Bureaucracy needs to be minimized to help businesses at risk of bankruptcy. Grants, bank loans, interest-free credit, moratorium of loan payments, waiver of public utility bills and other economic packages should reach business owners as fast as possible. Simplifying the application process for those in need is also crucial”.

In preparation of the meeting, IOE published a detailed note with highlights for the Employers’ Group (accessible to IOE members only).