Global Deal Conference
- April 6, 2022 - April 7, 2022
- Online
The Global Deal, in cooperation with Open Society Foundations, is organizing a virtual high-level conference in the afternoon of the 6th and 7th April 2022 on the critical role of essential workers in supporting economies, societies and businesses. |
The aim of this high-level event is to discuss practical changes that would improve the working lives of both formal and informal essential workers.
The conference will offer an opportunity for governments, businesses, labor, civil society, and international organizations to engage and to find solutions together. It will highlight examples of practices that have been shown to work during the pandemic but that need to be sustained in the longer term — such as providing essential workers with sustainable livelihoods, access to social protection, health and safety at the workplace and ending violence and harassment in the world of work.
During the two-day panels, workers representing the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), HomeNet International, StreetNet International, and WIEGO will participate during the virtual meetings to bring the voices and experiences of the most marginalized workers to demand principles and practices that respond to their particular needs.
Panel 1 – Fair pay and decent working conditions
Time: 8:00 – 9:00 AM EDT
Watch related video “Organizing for power”
The COVID-19 pandemic underlines the crucial role that essential workers play in supporting economies, societies and businesses. It is also a reminder that their remuneration does not always reflect the value of their work, putting the livelihood of millions of workers at risk. This panel will highlight how social dialogue has been mobilized to secure a fairer remuneration.
Speakers:
Panel 2 – Access to social protection
Time: 9:00 – 10:00 AM EDT
Watch related video “Stand with Essential workers”
By ensuring access to healthcare and by providing income replacement, social protection has shielded people from financial insecurity and poverty during the pandemic. However, there are important gaps in social protection, especially for informal workers and workers in non-standard-employment. This panel will discuss initiatives that have been taken by governments and social partners to cover such gaps.
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Panel 3 – Improving occupational health and safety
Time: 8:00 – 9:00 AM EDT
Watch related video “A new deal for the care sector”
Many essential workers have been at the frontline of the pandemic, continuing to work in close proximity with others despite the risk of exposing themselves to the coronavirus. This panel will demonstrate how social dialogue can make a difference by providing essential workers with better health protection at work.
Speakers:
Panel 4 – Ending violence and harassment in the world of work
Time: 9:00 – 10:00 AM EDT
Watch related video “Support Essential Workers: Stop Violence and Harassment at Work”
Work-related violence and harassment have increased as a result of the pandemic, and this has often taken the form of gender-based violence. Essential workers and those suspected to be carriers of COVID-19 have also been at risk of stigmatization, discrimination, and violence. This panel will look at the measures taken by governments and social partners to address this problem.
Speakers:
OECD Sessions: https://oecd-events.org/social-dialogue-essential-workers/sessions
Speakers: https://oecd-events.org/social-dialogue-essential-workers/speakers
OECD Forum 2022: https://www.oecd.org/forum/
Florence Bonnet, Françoise Carré, Martha A. Chen, and Joann Vanek. Home-based Workers in the World: A Statistical Profile, WIEGO Statistical Brief No. 27, January 2021. Read here.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Home-Based Workers Around the World: Workers Speak up and Demand Recovery Efforts, HNI Webinar, 2021. Watch here.
COVID-19: Guidance for occupational safety and health for employers and domestic workers, IDWF and ILO 2021. English, Spanish, Portuguese.
The impact of COVID-19 on domestic workers in Africa, IDWF Research Report, 2021. English, Spanish, French, Portuguese. Read the Executive Summary here: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese.
Train the Trainers Toolkit on the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190) and Recommendation (No. 206), IDWF and Global Unions.
Mobilizing during the COVID-19 pandemic, StreetNet International Report, Dec 2020. Read here.
Enabling Social Protection within the Informal Economy: Lessons from Worker-led Schemes in Nigeria, Uganda and Togo, Temilade Sesan, WIEGO & StreetNet International, 2021. Read here.
WIEGO Social Protection Briefing Notes. These briefs comprise country cases of measures to protect informal workers from risks from lockdowns, from the pandemic itself, and from more hazardous situations that may arise. Read here.