The World of Work and COVID-19

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has turned the world of work upside down. It is having a dramatic effect on the jobs, livelihoods and well-being of workers and their families and on enterprises across the globe, particularly the small and medium sized. While certain sectors and industries have successfully moved online, pointing the way towards exciting innovations in the world of work, millions of workers have lost their livelihoods and many more – especially women who are concentrated in highly exposed sectors – remain at risk. This policy brief presents the stark consequences of COVID-19 in an already precarious world of work and provides practical options to recover better.