Reference no: EM133036412

Case Study

Background

On March 26th 2020, the ILO facilitated an online meeting, 'Caribbean Trade Unions Information Sharing Sessions on Covid-19 and the world of work.' The purpose of the information sharing session was to provide a virtual space/platform for Workers' organizations in the Caribbean Region to share information. Additionally, and most importantly, the session was intended to provide an opportunity for the ILO to receive comments and inputs on technical and practical support the Office could provide to Trade Unions in these times of uncertainty.

The world of work is being profoundly affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the threat to public health, the economic and social disruption threatens the long-term livelihoods and wellbeing of millions. The ILO and its constituents-Governments, Workers' Organizations and Employers' Organizations-will play a crucial role in combating the outbreak, ensuring the safety of individuals and the sustainability of businesses and jobs. An initial assessment of the impact ofCOVID-19 on the global world of work says the effects will be far-reaching, pushing millions of people into unemployment, underemployment and working poverty, and proposes measures for a decisive, coordinated and immediate response.

Governments from the Caribbean Region have announced several measures to deal with Covid-19 and some are exploring stimulus packages to assist businesses and workers. Most businesses are forced to shut down and others to cut-down on operating hours. Workers are encouraged to telework to curb further spread. There is no doubt that Covid-19 will have serious economic consequences. According to Dr. Justin Ram, Director of Economics at the Caribbean Development Bank, the tourism-dependent economies in the Caribbean where the sector employs approximately 2.4 million people and contributes more than $62 billion to the Region's GDP (2018) are most likely to be affected by an economic slowdown linked to travel. The impact is currently being felt in the cruise industry as many Caribbean governments deny porting to some vessels. Additionally, the decreasing demand for fuel will have a negative impact on the Region's oil exporters-Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname.

Some Workers' Organizations in the Region are providing guidelines to their members and workers on how to deal with Covid-19 in their workplaces such as the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association, the Antigua and Barbuda Workers' Union and the National Workers' Union in Barbados. Many of the Workers' Organizations are also engaged in bipartite and tripartite discussions with the aim of co-creating solutions.

Questions:

A. Discuss the term 'Social Dialogue' and explain how it relates to the contents of the case.

B. Assess FOUR (4) potential labor challenges faced by employers in the public and private sectors based on information presented in the case.

C. Explain the intention of the CARICOM Declaration of Labour and Industrial Relations Principles and discuss TWO (2) ways it could be relevant to this case.