COVID-19 and the World of Work: Sharing Experience and Way Forward - Virtual meeting

The World of Work is being profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the threat to public health, the economic and social disruption impacts the long-term livelihoods and well-being of millions. A trade union interactive meeting by ILO DWT/CO-New Delhi along with ACTRAV was organized to strategize the action.

A virtual meeting with Indian Trade Unions was organized to share experiences and way forward with regard to COVID-19 and World of Work. The senior leaders of most of the Central Trade Unions and ACTRAV Director also joined the meeting along with Director ILO DWT/CO- New Delhi and other officials from ILO DWT/CO-New Delhi, ACTRAV and ITC-Turin.

The meeting has been broadly covered into three parts:
  • the experience of COVID-19 pandemic, lock down and its impact on the workers life and livelihood
  • what needs to be done and
  • most importantly how the Trade Unions and ILO can work together to tackle this unprecedented situation.
This virtual meeting (webinar) has been one of its kind to maintain the communication with trade unions. Solidarity and coordinated approach have been deliberated as the key to prevent the spread, protect lives and livelihoods of the millions and to build resilient economies and societies. Along with the discussions on present status of the Word of Work and its impact on worker’s safety, rights and livelihood, the meeting also helped to frame the way forward and action points.

The meeting affirmed that we are going through this crisis together and joint efforts will lead to the solutions. The bipartite and tripartite joint work is one of the way out in order to bring out single voice of trade unions and putting forward in form of joint proposal. It is also very important that we shall keep these channels (connecting virtually) open as a new way to connect in these challenging times.