1 May 2020

Shutdowns and confinement now cover most of the world’s population... The economic and social impact as lives and livelihoods are put on hold has disrupted the world of work with low-paid insecure workers carrying the burden... On 1 May, we salute the workers in health, care and other frontline sectors whose work is essential to saving lives and providing vital products and services...

The impacts of this crisis have brutally exposed the failings of the model of globalisation which has been imposed on working women and men. Public health systems have been debilitated by austerity, and the erosion of workers’ rights has left untold millions of workers exposed. Women, migrant workers, ethnic minorities and others who face discrimination are bearing a particularly heavy burden...

The re-launching of the global economy must have three main objectives:

JOBS: Millions of jobs are being destroyed. Full employment must be the goal, with decent work for all; healthy and safe conditions; formalisation of informal work; and an end to precarious work.

INCOMES: ... Minimum living wages must be in place everywhere, the right to collective bargaining has to be ensured for all workers and the gender pay gap must be closed.

SOCIAL PROTECTION: Billions of people have been left without social protection and are at grave risk... Now is the time for global cooperation to fund social protection for all...