COVID-19 and the world of work in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Latest news

ILO's webinar on promoting transition from informal to formal economy and Global call to action for a human-centered recovery from COVID-19 crisis
14 December 2021 г.

The ILO Project "Transition from informal to formal economy" has been officially launched at the Webinar.
 
COVID-19 and road transport
Road transport operators warn of a “perfect storm” in supply chain crisis
28 October 2021 г.

Road transport companies and workers’ representatives call on governments to address labour concerns, rising fuel prices and pandemic restrictions in the sector, to stem driver turnover and prevent supply chain disruptions.
 
COVID-19
Formalizing Informal Economy: Round Table in Kyrgyzstan
28 October 2021 г.

More than 50 representatives of public agencies, business associations, trade unions and international organizations gathered on 28 October to discuss the problems of informal economy formalization in Kyrgyzstan.
 
COVID-19
VI Research Conference “Social Labour Conflicts in Russia and Worldwide”
1 October 2021 г.

Post-pandemic realities of the world of work, digitization, rise of temporary and precarious employment, global transformation of industrial relations … These trends and mechanisms for settlement and prevention of social labour conflicts were discussed by researchers, statesmen and community leaders of Russia and other countries at the conference which took place on 1 October at the trade unions’ Saint-Petersburg University of the Humanities.
 
COVID-19
More than 4 billion people still lack any social protection, ILO report finds
1 September 2021 г.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and exacerbated the social protection gap between countries with high and low income levels..
 
COVID-19
ILO welcomes BRICS Ministers' support for human-centred recovery from COVID-19
15 July 2021 г.

The ILO’s Global Call to Action for a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, adopted by the membership at the International Labour Conference in June, has been endorsed by the Labour and Employment Ministers of the five BRICS economies.
 
COVID-19
Global labour migration increases by five million
30 Juny 2021 г.

A new ILO report estimates that between 2017 and 2019 the number of people migrating for work internationally increased from 164 to 169 million.
 
COVID-19
Trade Unions matter in a human-centred recovery from COVID-19
24 Juny 2021 г.

The new edition of the International Journal of Labour Research explores strategies to help workers and their organizations shape COVID-19 response policies and advocate for social justice and workers’ rights.
 
COVID-19
G20 ministers recommit to human-centred roadmap out of crisis
23 Juny 2021 г.

The Declaration issued at the conclusion of the G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting in Italy echoes the ILO Global Call to Action for a Human-Centred Recovery, adopted by delegates at the June session of the 2021 International Labour Conference.
 
COVID-19
First international treaty to address violence and harassment comes into force
21 Juny 2021 г.

The International Labour Organization is to launch a global campaign to promote ratification of the Violence and Harassment Convention.
 
COVID-19
COVID-19 and social protection among key debates as June session of virtual International Labour Conference ends
19 Juny 2021 г.

The impact of COVID-19 on the world of work featured prominently in the June segment of the first virtual International Labour Conference. Conclusions on social protection and the application of international labour standards were adopted on the final day, along with an emergency resolution on Myanmar.
 
COVID-19
Global agreement reached at ILO Conference on action for COVID-19 recovery
17 Juny 2021 г.

The International Labour Conference has adopted a Global Call to Action outlining measures to create a human-centred recovery from the pandemic and avoid the long-term scarring of economies and societies.
 
COVID-19
10 years on, domestic workers still fight for equality and decent work
15 Juny 2021 г.

On the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Domestic Workers’ Convention, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed continued vulnerabilities of domestic workers in the labour market.
 
COVID-19
Child labour rises to 160 million – first increase in two decades
10 Juny 2021 г.

The International Labour Organization and UNICEF warn nine million additional children at risk as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
 
COVID-19
“Cataclysmic” COVID-19 crisis demands human-centred recovery policies, says ILO Director-General
7 Juny 2021 г.

The ILO’s Director-General told delegates at the opening virtual plenary sitting of the International Labour Conference that human-centred policies, such as those outlined in the ILO Centenary Declaration, are key to a sustainable and inclusive global pandemic response.
 
COVID-19
Slow jobs recovery and increased inequality risk long-term COVID-19 scarring
2 Juny 2021 г.

ILO projections highlight the danger of a COVID-19 labour market legacy of increased geographic and demographic inequality, rising poverty and fewer decent jobs.
 
COVID-19
ILO supports conferences at Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) with its analysis of COVID-19’s impacts
22 April 2021 г.

On 15 and 21 April 2021, the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia participated in two conferences held at MSU. 2021.
 
COVID-19
Russian Federation: Trade unions obtain new teleworking legislation
14 December 2020 г.

New legislation adopted by the parliament of the Russian Federation will offer several benefits to workers by reinforcing social dialogue and collective agreements. The new law will enter into force on 1 January 2021.
 
COVID-19
ILO, Russia Sign Programme of Cooperation for 2021-2024
10 December 2020 г.

The Russian tripartite constituents – Government, employers’ and workers’ organizations - and ILO Director-General Guy Ryder today signed a Programme of Cooperation between Russia and the ILO for the years 2021-2024. The Programme capitalizes on the experiences and results achieved under five Programmes of cooperation (PoC) signed since 2006, and also takes into consideration challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
COVID-19
Effects of COVID-19 on Tajikistan’s Health Care and Health Workers. Pandemic Response, Social Dialogue and Policies to Promote Occupational Safety and Health of Tajikistan’s Health Workers at Work
3 November 2020

On November 3, 2020 the Nationwide Committee of Tajikistan’s Health Care and Social Protection Workers Union supported by the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) in Dushanbe held a video conference “Effects of COVID-19 on Tajikistan’s Health Care and Health Workers. Pandemic Response, Social Dialogue and Policies to Promote Occupational Safety and Health of Tajikistan’s Health Workers at Work”
 
COVID-19
9th BRICS Trade Union Forum
2 November 2020

The forum was attended by 106 delegates representing 13 national trade union centres which bring together almost 400 million workers, and by honorary guests from Russia and beyond.
 
COVID-19
An assessment of the social protection system in Uzbekistan. Based on the Core Diagnostic instrument (CODI). A joint report by ILO, UNICEF, and the World Bank
30 October 2020

The reform of the social protection system has been on the government reform agenda for the last two years. Now, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan, it is gaining more urgency.
 
COVID-19
ILO presented report on Women and Work in Uzbekistan: Towards Gender Equality and Decent Work for All
8 October 2020

Uzbekistan has taken significant steps to improve women’s situation in the world of work, yet gender gaps remain. Gender-equitable socioeconomic development will require promoting decent work and a social protection floor for all, and addressing gender biases in laws, policies, institutions, and practices, says new report on Women and Work in Uzbekistan launched in Tashkent today.
 
COVID-19
Partnerships between Public Employment Services and Employer and Business Membership Organizations save jobs and help enterprises remain sustainable
7 October 2020

On 7 October 2020, ILO Moscow conducted the second of five training webinars devoted to the PES Role in Overcoming the COVID-19 Crisis and the Future of Work. PES representatives and practitioners from the Commonwealth of Independent States, international experts and ILO officials discussed and exchanged good practices on how PES are adapting their communication and programmes with enterprises to better respond to the COVID-19 crisis.
 
COVID-19
Productive employment and decent work in Uzbekistan in the post-COVID-19 period
23 September 2020

A range of response measures undertaken by Uzbekistan to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, facilitates strong and fast labour market recovery echo the ILO’s four-pillar policy framework to combat COVID-19. This was stated by the participants of the webinar devoted to the launch of a new report by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of Uzbekistan on the impact of COVID-19 on the labour market and efforts made to support Uzbek workers.
 
COVID-19
Results of Joint Social Protection System Assessment Presented in Georgia
29 July 2020

The International Labour Organization in partnership with UN Women organized a sensitization online seminar on the findings of the Joint Social Protection Assessment on Thursday, 29 July 2020.
 
COVID-19
UN Joint Programme on Strengthening Social Protection presented assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the socio-economic situation in Uzbekistan
16 July 2020

Comprehensive economic, employment and social protection measures in Uzbekistan are gaining even more prominence and urgency in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
COVID-19
Webinar on Securing fiscal space for expanded social protection programmes
30 June 2020

On 30 June, the ILO Moscow delivered the fourth out of five webinars “From the immediate crisis response to COVID pandemic towards economic recovery, with decent work in focus”, dedicated to promoting social protection programmes and employment policies through secured fiscal space, including international experience and policy considerations. The webinar was attended by about 70 representatives of Labour Ministries, workers’ and employers’ organizations, other line ministries and agencies, research community and UN agencies from 10 countries served by the ILO Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
 
COVID-19
International labour standards and national law in light of the impact of Covid-19 on labour relations – webinar for judges in Georgia
27 June 2020

The social impact of measures taken by the Government of Georgia to counter the spread of Covid-19 has brought to the fore questions related to the role of international labour standards and the application of relevant provisions of the Georgian Labour Code. To discuss these issues, the ILO and the High School of Justice of Georgia organized a webinar.
 
COVID-19
Webinar on Supporting enterprises for rapid economic recovery: timely responses and the case of the Russian Federation
18 June 2020

ILO Moscow Office has organized the third out of five webinars under a general title “From the immediate crisis response to COVID pandemic towards economic recovery, with decent work in focus”. The participants discussed country responses to support enterprises for rapid economic recovery, especially for employment retention in micro- and small enterprises, support to self-entrepreneurs and dismissed workers.
 
COVID-19
Effective Crisis Response Strategies of Government and Businesses: Social Aspect
17 June 2020

This was the title of the annual Social Forum organized by the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) as part of the Russian Business Week.
 
COVID-19
Rapid Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Workers in the Informal Economy
16 June 2020

On 16 June 2020 the ILO DWT/CO Moscow held a Subregional Webinar “Rapid Assessment of the Impact of COVID-19 on Workers in the Informal Economy”. This was the third webinar in a series of webinars devoted to social protection response to COVID-19 pandemic in the ECIS sub-region.
 
COVID-19
Turkmenistan: Webinar on Supporting Enterprises for Rapid Economic Recovery
15 June 2020

On 15 June 2020, ILO Moscow organized a webinar for ILO constituents in Turkmenistan. The webinar focused on policy measures to support enterprises and businesses during the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic, and securing jobs in the context of the crisis. Turkmenistan was represented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, social partners, Ministry of Finance, other ministries and agencies.
 
COVID-19
ILO and Uzbekistan assess progress in cooperation during an online meeting
12 June 2020

New Decent Work Country Programme will remain the primary framework for the ILO support to the Uzbek constituents. It will set new horizons of cooperation with increased focus on the COVID-19 longer term implications response. This was stated by the participants of the videoconference between Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Uzbek Senate and ILO Director-General Guy Ryder held on 12 June.
 
COVID-19
UNICEF, ILO, UNDP work together with the Government of Uzbekistan on strengthening social protection system
5 June 2020

The Joint Programme of the Government and the UN Agencies on strengthening social protection system in Uzbekistan held its first meeting in Tashkent. The meeting focused on the roadmap for preparation of the national social protection strategy 2030.
 
COVID-19
Extending social security coverage to workers in informal economy - webinar
4 June 2020

On 04 June 2020 the ILO DWT/CO Moscow held a Subregional Webinar “Extending social security coverage to workers in informal economy”. This was the second webinar in a series of webinars devoted to social protection response to COVID-19 pandemic.
 
COVID-19
Webinar on the Role of institutions, including PES, in protecting jobs and delivering services to vulnerable groups
1 June 2020

ILO Moscow continues the series of five webinars “From the immediate crisis response to COVID pandemic towards economic recovery with decent work in focus”.
 
COVID-19
Functional Self-Assessment for Public Works Fund Launched in Uzbekistan
26 May 2020

Designed by ILO specialists, the PWF functional self-assessment methodology was introduced amid COVID-19 pandemic to the management and specialists of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations at a webinar on May 26, 2020.
 
COVID-19
Subregional Webinar “Social Protection Response to impact of COVID -19 crisis”
22 May 2020

On 22 May the ILO DWT/CO Moscow held a Subregional Webinar “Social Protection Response to impact of COVID -19 crisis” for the ILO constituents and stakeholders. It was the first webinar in a series of webinars devoted to social protection response to COVID 19 pandemic.
 
COVID-19
Webinar on Employment and Labour Market Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic
20 May 2020

ILO Moscow has launched a series of five webinars “From the immediate crisis response to COVID pandemic towards economic recovery with- decent work in focus”.
 
COVID-19
RSPP Polls More Than 900 Russian Companies
16 May 2020

IIn April 2020, the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) conducted a country-wide survey among its members based on the methodology of the International Labour Organization to find out how much the Covid-19 pandemic affected company operations..
 
COVID-19
A new milestone in the development of employment strategy in Uzbekistan
15 May 2020

The large-scale tasks of economic and social reforms in Uzbekistan reinforce the need to transform the model of public employment policy, and in this matter we rely on the ILO technical and expert support. This was stated by the constituents who discussed the background report for the preparation of the National Employment Strategy at the video conference held on 15 May in Tashkent.
 
COVID-19
Rapid costing tool for COVID-19 response – a webinar for Kyrgyzstan
8 May 2020

On 08 May, 2020, the second webinar entitled Rapid costing tool for COVID-19 response, was held in the framework of a series of webinars for technical experts of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development (MLSD) and the Social Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic.
 
COVID-19
ILO, Armenian Government Discuss Measures to Address COVID-19 Pandemic
5 May 2020

On May 5, an online discussion was conducted between the ILO Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia to discuss ILO-Armenia cooperation in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
COVID-19
ILO’s Central Asian Partners Introduced to Rapid Country Assessment Amid Pandemic
30 April 2020

Designed by ILO specialists, the rapid country assessment methodology was introduced amid COVID-19 pandemic to the ILO’s Central Asian partners at a webinar on April 30.
 
COVID-19
Social Protection Responses to COVID crisis: webinar in Kyrgyzstan
29 April 2020

ILO DWT/CO has launched a series of webinars for technical experts of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development (MLSD) and the Social Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic based on their request for technical assistance to mitigate the impact of COVID19 crisis on workers (in formal and informal economy) and their families. Two other components of ILO’s technical assistance include: rapid labour market assessment and support to occupational health and safety and labour inspections.
COVID-19
Private Employment Agencies can contribute to better working conditions
24 April 2020

Private employment agencies should complement the rapidly changing labour market of Uzbekistan and play the role of catalysts for new forms of human resources management services and are called upon to make a significant contribution to improving working conditions. This was stated by the participants of an international video conference “Improving the Institute of Private Employment Agencies: National and International Experience" held on 24 April 2020.
 
COVID-19
COVID-19 Pandemic and Employment Relations Reset High on the Agenda of the Saint-Petersburg International Legal Forum
12 April 2020

How to save one’s business and comply with obligations before the workers? What changes to the labour law are now possible and acceptable? How to settle the legal and other aspects of remote work? These and other issues were discussed at a special panel of the forum entitled “Resetting Employment Relations. Finding a Balance of Interests between Employers and Employees in the New Reality”. As all events and discussions, this panel was conducted online.
 
COVID-19
The ILO and Uzbekistan working together towards an employment strategy amid the Covid-19 crisis
03 April 2020

Despite the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, on April 3, 2020, a tripartite online conference was organized on the background report for the preparation of the new Uzbekistan National Employment Strategy. Representatives of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, employers’ and workers’ organizations, together with the ILO national and international consultants analyzed the labour market, national and sectoral employment policies and identified ways to ensure the transition to formal and more productive jobs.
 
COVID-19
Virtual meeting of Ms. Olga Koulaeva, DWT/CO Moscow Director, with Ms. Gulru Jabborzoda, Minister of labour, migration and employment of population of Republic of Tajikistan
01 April 2020

On 1 April 2020 a virtual meeting of Ms. Olga Koulaeva, Director of ILO DWT/CO in Moscow, with Ms. Gulru Jabborzoda, Minister of labour, migration and employment of population of Republic of Tajikistan was held. Mr. Mikhail Pouchkin, Senior Employment Specialist and Ms. Jasmina Papa, Senior Social Protection Specialist also attended the meeting on behalf of the ILO DWT/CO in Moscow.
 
COVID-19
ILO Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Moves to Teleworking due to COVID-19
18 March 2020

In accordance with the ILO Director-General’s decision and as a mitigation measure in the local circumstances, full teleworking arrangement as of 17 March 2020 and until further notice has been introduced to ILO staff stationed in Moscow, Tashkent, Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi, Nur-Sultan and Bishkek.