The COVID-19 crisis is affecting many different aspects of the world of work and its effects are likely to be long-lasting. The crisis is affecting how and where we work, it has led to a sharp drop in employment and hours worked and it affects workers’ incomes, job security and job prospects for young people arriving on the labour market (ILO 2020i). The economic damage it causes is expected to increase levels of poverty and inequality.
National and global responses should aim to address both the short-term and long-term effects, bearing in mind that robust employment and social policies are key to swift and durable regeneration and to preparedness for similar crises in the future. This briefing seeks to set out the main employment and social policy recommendations from European and international organisations

The recommendations result from a review of selected policy papers and research by ILO, OECD, Eurofound, EU-OSHA and other European and international stakeholders in the field of employment and social affairs. The review reveals a widely shared consensus on key components of policy strategies, including recommendations to:
Establish and/or adapt robust job retention schemes such as short-term work measures in order to mitigate the effects of this and potential future crises on employment and incomes.
Widen access to social protection systems to offer a basic, minimum level of protection and income to all, regardless of their employment status, especially given the prospect of further outbreaks/pandemics. The situation of precarious workers requires special attention.
Provide extra support to financially vulnerable groups, who are often most affected by crises, to ensure that the crisis does not increase poverty and exacerbate existing inequalities or create new forms of inequality and social exclusion.
Restrict freedom of movement only to the extent that is necessary to tackle the health crisis, so that cross-border, posted and seasonal workers can access their workplaces.
Acknowledge the vital role played by frontline and key workers and improve their working conditions.
Implement appropriate health and safety rules to make all workplaces safe. Some crisis responses, such as teleworking, can be an opportunity to develop new, flexible ways of working but potentially negative long-term effects should be addressed.
Encourage digitalisation, tackle the digital divide and adapt workers’ skills to future challenges in order to contribute to stronger preparedness for future upheavals and increase the crisis immunity of all countries, companies and workers.
Recognise the value of social dialogue as a tool for ensuring effective coordination and cooperation in developing responses to the crisis and policies for recovery.