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As well as the tragic human toll of the virus itself, the COVID-19 pandemic is laying bare the grave injustices of our economic model.  How could our economies be transformed in the wake of COVID-19 if our rights and dignity are placed at their center? The Recovering Rights series aims to spark collective debate on this question. 

Topic #5: Business and Human Rights in a Just Recovery, July 2020 - Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, and Center for Economic & Social Rights

The pandemic response has demanded a greater role for the state... governments will set the broad regulatory framework that will define what business can and can’t do... they will also devise business bailouts, forgivable loans, and other publicly funded incentives. These should be designed to reward responsible business conduct and prevent abuse...

Conditions for receiving public funds:

• Use the funds to benefit employees and enhance worker protections...
• Have a time-bound plan to implement human rights and environmental due diligence...
• Respect workers’ rights, such as freedom of association, collective bargaining, safe working conditions and ending discrimination.   
• End abusive treatment of vulnerable workers...
• Limit executive pay and implement a living minimum wage for all workers...
• Avoid tax havens and pay their fair share...
• Have a time-bound action plan to achieve netzero carbon emissions consistent with the latest science and the Paris Agreement.

Read the brief