Virtual webinar

Lessons from the COVID-19 crisis: An unprecedented role for labour market policies?

This webinar will take stock of the different labour market policies and programmes employed during the COVID-19 crisis, highlight key lessons and gaps in their implementation, and identify major issues for further policy monitoring during the recovery period. The event is supported by GIZ.

Context

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on economies and labour markets around the world as a result of the lockdown and containment measures. The impact in 2020 was both vast and deep - four times greater than the global financial crisis if analysed in terms of a reduction in working hours. Since then, the recovery has been uneven, uncertain and fragile. Youth and women, along with those in the informal economy, have been badly affected and are, in some cases, being left behind as recoveries get underway.

To mitigate the immediate impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns, policy-makers frontloaded emergency financial support to enterprises and income transfers to households to ensure their survival and to stop the economy and jobs from collapsing.

As economies embark on recovery (where possible), countries have shifted their attention to restarting the economy by focusing on priority areas in line with a post-COVID-19 policy vision (i.e., a human-centred transition towards economies that are sustainable, inclusive and resilient). Key measures for recovery include active labour market programmes, such as hiring subsidies and employment services, which can facilitate the re-entry of the jobless and those marginalized in the labour market, including in the context of growth/priority sectors (such as the digital, green and care economy).

Objectives of the webinar

The aims of the webinar are to:
  • Take stock of the different labour market policies and programmes employed during the COVID-19 crisis.
  • Highlight key lessons and gaps in their implementation.
  • Identify major issues for further policy monitoring during the recovery period.
The webinar is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Sector Project Employment Promotion in Development Cooperation, on behalf of Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ).

Participants

The webinar will consist of participants from international organizations, development partners, national policymakers, social partners and other experts.

Agenda

Moderator: Sher Verick, ILO

14:00 -14:15 – Welcome by ILO and GIZ
  • Sukti Dasgupta, ILO
  • Sabine Becker, GIZ
14:15 – 15:30 – Presentation: Labour market policies during COVID-19

Objective: Drawing on recent analysis, the aim of this session is to highlight key policy lessons with a particular focus on labour market programmes, including job retention schemes and hiring subsidies, along with those policies targeting disadvantaged groups, especially youth. In addition, it will underscore the efforts made to support incomes, particularly to those outside the scope of formal protections. The session will highlight gaps in implementation, while stressing key issues for achieving an inclusive and job-rich recovery.
  • Presentation by Werner Eichhorst, IZA
  • Discussants: Niall O’Higgins, ILO, TBC
Q&A

Closing

Registration here.