New Global Deal flagship report Social Dialogue, Skills and COVID-19 launched

 

On 20 October 2020, the Global Deal launched its 2020 Flagship Report “Social Dialogue, Skills and COVID-19” at a high-level virtual event featuring Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Anna Hallberg, Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs of Sweden. Other speakers included: Boitumelo Moloi, Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour South Africa; Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation; Sanna Lindgren, Director of Culture and Communications at Lindex; and José María Vera, Interim Executive Director of Oxfam International.

 

Over 400 people from across the globe attended the event, which presented the key findings of the report as well the commitments made by Global Deal partners. The report reveals how the pandemic has exposed and intensified underlying inequalities and is having a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups already facing insecurity, such as the low-skilled and informal workers, youth and women. It argues that social dialogue and collective bargaining have a key role to play in building back a more sustainable economy in which the benefits of growth are distributed across the whole of society. Beyond the challenges brought by the COVID-19 crisis, the report underlines the benefits of involving social partners in skills development and life-long learning programmes. It also shows how Global Deal partners have engaged in efforts to promote and strengthen social dialogue and sound industrial relations.

 

The OECD Secretary-General mentioned the important role played by social dialogue in the immediate response to the crisis, as well as to achieve UN 2030 Agenda commitments and to prepare for global trends such as digitalisation, globalisation and climate change, with a particular focus on skills development. Mr. Gurría also highlighted how Global Deal partners are continuing to advance social dialogue by voluntarily engaging in a diverse range of specific commitments. The ILO Director-General stressed that in these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, social dialogue has never been more important and added that one of the most important elements in building a better future of work will be investment in workers. Minister Hallberg highlighted that the new report makes a strong case for how essential effective social dialogue is for achieving decent work, sound industrial relations and, in extension, better societies. Additionally, Ms. Hallberg emphasised the importance of the Global Deal as a platform for interaction where opportunities for gains that mutually benefit workers, businesses, and governments can be highlighted and promoted.

 

The executive summary of the report is available to read in English, French and Spanish and the event is also available to view on the Global Deal Youtube channel in English, Spanish and French. Click here to access the full report. 

 

For more information on the Global Deal, including how to join, please contact globaldeal@oecd.org