During 2020, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has provoked a seismic shock to the way we live and work and the way we view the world. Employer and business membership organizations (EBMOs) across the globe have been at the forefront of helping the businesses they represent to weather the storm in a number of ways. This has ranged from leading the policy response to government, offering guidance to members in terms of managing the health and sanitary aspects of the crisis and also engaging in measures to save businesses and safeguard jobs.

Today we launch a report entitled “Leading business in times of COVID Crisis: Analysis of the activities of employer and business membership organizations in the COVID 19 pandemic and what comes next”. The report covers three themes:

Taking stock of how EBMOs have responded to the ongoing COVID 19 crisis – it is clear that business representative organizations have responded with resilience, creativity and member-centricity.

Looking ahead at the role, services and impact of EMBOs as the crisis evolves and also consider current social and economic policy priorities.

Identifying concrete actions for what EBMO initiatives can be taken to help reboot national economies and labour markets.

The report is primarily aimed at EBMOs as a thought piece for future action. However I believe it is also an important message to a wider audience as it highlights the role that the business community, acting through its representative organizations can play in driving forward enterprise performance, social progress and vibrant economies.

Deborah France-Massin, Director, ILO Bureau for Employers' Activities