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COVID19-ILO-LOCKDOWN
COVID-19: Protect workers both now and after lockdowns: ILO
DHAKA, April 28, 2020 (BSS) – As the pressure mounts on countries to ease
their lockdown restrictions, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has
urged governments to take action to prevent and control COVID-19 in the
workplace, with active involvement and dialogue with employers’ and workers’
organisations.
All employers need to carry out risk assessments and ensure their
workplaces meet strict occupational safety and health criteria beforehand, to
minimise the risk to workers of exposure to COVID-19, the ILO said in a press
release issued here today.
Without such controls, countries face the very real risk of a resurgence of
the virus. Putting in place the necessary measures will minimise the risk of
a second wave of contagion contracted at the workplace.
Director-General of the ILO, Guy Ryder said: “The safety and health of our
entire workforce is paramount today. In the face of an infectious disease
outbreak, how we protect our workers now clearly dictates how safe our
communities are, and how resilient our businesses will be, as this pandemic
evolves.”
“It is only by implementing occupational safety and health measures that we
can protect the lives of workers, their families and the larger communities,
ensure work continuity and economic survival,” Ryder added.
Country Director of ILO Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen said as some industries
begin to slowly resume operations, the ILO has developed a three-pronged
strategy to ensure a safer return to work in the Bangladesh context.
The first step is the adoption of several safety and health measures at
work based on dialogue between employers and workers, and a shared
understanding of coronavirus risks, the ILO country director said.
“To prevent transmission of the virus and safeguard workers, the ILO has
developed Covid-19 specific OSH guidelines, together with the Department of
Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE)”, he said.
“Furthermore, the ILO is recommending employment retention through work-
sharing and reskilling, in addition to essential social protection measures
to ensure access to subsistence allowance, basic healthcare and income
security for formal and informal sector workers,” ILO director added.
In particular, risk control measures should be specifically adapted to the
needs of workers at the frontline of the pandemic. These include health
workers, nurses, doctors and emergency workers, as well as those in food
retail and cleaning services.
The ILO also highlighted the needs of the most vulnerable workers and
businesses, in particular those in the informal economy, migrant and domestic
workers.
Measures to protect these workers should include – among others – education
and training on safe and healthy work practices, free provision of PPE as
needed, access to public health services and livelihood alternatives, the
release said.
Poutiainen said ILO is committed to working in unison with the Bangladesh
government, employers’ and workers’ to help protect the nation’s millions of
workers against the ravages of Covid-19, hunger and poverty.
Thanking all frontline workers, he said, “ILO wishes to express our
heartfelt gratitude to all frontline workers – in hospitals, grocery stores,
law enforcement, armed forces, DIFE, utility companies, delivery services,
banks, voluntary organisations – all the dedicated men and women who are
responding to our needs during this pandemic. We also thank those working
from home to keep the economy moving while protecting themselves and others.”
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