The 109th International Labour Conference (ILC) has adopted a resolution concerning a global call to action for a “human-centred” recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Bangladesh led the COVID Response Committee in the Conference which was held in Geneva.
The foreign ministry said the conference made the call with an urge for an “inclusive, sustainable and resilient” recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the foreign ministry said.
The resolution calls for ensuring access to vaccines and personal protection equipment for workers, particularly to reduce the health risk of the health workers as well as salaries and allowances of all workers during the pandemic.
It strongly appeals for timely, affordable and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all people in all countries for the revitalization of the global economy and the world of work.
It also urges the International Labour Organization to play a more effective role for accelerating the support to States to address the increasing inequality between developed and developing countries.
The resolution emphasises the expansion of the social safety net for recovery from the pandemic with a special focus on women, older persons and migrants. At the same time, it underscored the need for a gender-balanced, sustainable and people-centred post-pandemic recovery plan. The global call to action was adopted after an intense negotiation in the COVID Response Committee of the Conference.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva Md. Mustafizur Rahman chaired the Committee.
Bangladesh also led the Asia and Pacific Group in the negotiation as the coordinator and stressed the need for addressing the specific challenges of the region.
