ILO conventions and COVID-19

The main message of this document is the importance of social dialogue in a crisis context. It highlights that social dialogue is key to prevent employment and working conditions degradation and facilitating sustainable and decent work and resilience.

In this context, ILO recommendation n°205 urges states to reinforce the capacity of employees' and employers' organisation to have a proper social dialogue and social bargaining.

In a period of crisis, a strong social dialogue involving mutual trust between social partners but also social partners towards public entities can help to take the adequate measures to resist the crisis. The consultation and active participation of social partners in the taking measures process, follow up and recovery, and resilience are also requested by the recommendation and Convention n°87. Moreover, it is relevant to highlight the importance of social dialogue at all levels, from international to company level.

The document presents a set of questions and answers on the international labour standards linked to the COVID-19 outbreak, as temporary unemployment, occupational safety and health, time schedule reductions, prevention of discriminations, sick leaves, etc.

Access the ILO document in in English, Spanish or French here.