Sarajevo – A 1,000-bed camp for homeless migrants has begun operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with IOM support. The new facility, in the northern city of Bihac will remain open for the duration of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

The International Labour Organization warns that without adequate safeguards for returning workers there could be a second wave of the virus.

Efforts to counter the COVID-19 pandemic have seen unprecedented restrictions on movement being imposed in many countries, both at borders and within countries. Some communities and policymakers have adopted increasingly hostile attitudes towards migrants, whom they perceive as contagion risks. Barriers to movement are therefore not only state-imposed but can also be community led.

The consequences of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic for the labour market are likely to be severe. Many firms are struggling to stay afloat during the often strict confinement measures, and large numbers of workers have already either been involved in various forms of short-time work schemes or laid off. Public and private employment services (PES) will play a crucial role in preventing the labour market from seizing up during the crisis and in promoting a fast recovery once confinement measures start to be lifted. They will need to provide support on an increasingly virtual (i.e. not face to face) basis to an unparalleled inflow of job seekers. This will include ensuring that benefits are paid out without delay, providing information, and seekers to stay active even if there are fewer vacancies. In the short-term, the economic impact of the pandemic is shifting labour demand across sectors and regions, and it remains to be seen if this will lead to more permanent re-allocation of labour across sectors and regions. Therefore, the PES in each country will not only be facing a surge in the number of jobseekers but also the need to potentially reallocate many of them across occupations, sectors and regions. This requires providing them with good labour market information and support for skills development. In order to fulfil these particularly challenging tasks, PES need to be agile and quickly adapt to the new situation. This policy brief provides guidance on how this can be done

We need to be aware of the long-term consequences on the health of all workers. One can expect a drop out of personnel, not only due to infections with COVID-19, but also due to stress, frustration and isolation.

Big health inequities due to pandemic and economic recession are to be expected. For white coat workers, it will be mainly the mental health toll as a result of the high work load during the crisis. For white collar workers, their mental health will instead suffer from the effects of isolation and quarantine. Finally, for blue collar workers, job insecurity and loss of income could lead to mental health issues.

En un momento en el que el mundo se está movilizando para combatir la propagación del virus COVID-19, muchos países dentro y fuera de Europa han implementado medidas extraordinarias para gestionar sus fronteras, limitando los viajes por vía aérea y los movimientos transfronterizos. ACNUR, la Agencia de la ONU para los Refugiados, ha pedido hoy a los países europeos que, en estos tiempos difíciles, mantengan las buenas prácticas y redoblen sus esfuerzos para fortalecer los sistemas de asilo en Europa.

This note provides evidence on the importance of local action to help address the short-term and long-term consequences of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. It estimates that the share of jobs potentially at risk during confinement ranges from 15% to 35% across regions within 30OECD and 4non-OECD European countries. It explains why the local role is essential for the recovery, and explores the potential game changing nature of this outbreak for local development going forward

El presente análisis se centra en las accionesinmediatas que pueden adoptar los distintos gobiernos con el fin de asegurarse de que las medidas excepcionales implementadas antela crisis causadapor el coronavirus (COVID-19) no echen por tierrasus esfuerzos porencontrar una solución eficaz a los problemas medioambientales másapremiantes, si no por el contrario mejoren la salud ambientaly laresilienciade las sociedades

This policy brief discusses how competition policy can help address the immediate challenges raised by the COVID-19 crisis whilst looking to the post-pandemic future and the contribution of markets to medium and long-term economic recovery. It describes competition principles that governments can follow when designing support measures for the economy, including exit strategies. The note also outlines actions competition authorities can take to address the practical, theoretical and evidentiary challenges of the current crisis

This note examines how governments across the OECD are managing public servants in response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. It summarises the principles underpinning the most common measures taken across the OECD, and identifies initial opportunities for managing and harnessing change. The content of this note was developed through a Special Session of the Working Party on Public Employment and Management held on15 April

Secretaria Ejecutiva del organismo, Alicia Bárcena, participó en webinar de la Fundación EU-LAC, en donde instó a generar con Europa un “nuevo green deal” para un mundo más democrático, menos desigual y más sostenible.

Premier Giuseppe Conte announced that "phase two is starting, now it's time to live together with the virus" during a press conference from his office at Palazzo Chigi.

On the cusp of Vaccination Week in the Americas, countries need to take innovative safety measures to strengthen flu and measles vaccination to avoid an added burden of vaccine-preventable diseases, says PAHO

On April 26 2020, the Prime Minister of Italy signed a Decree (text in Italian) that initiates the Phase 2 of Government actions to combat and contain the coronavirus. The new Decree goes into effect on May 4, and envisages a gradual easing of restrictions and restart of activities, including the reopening of schools in September. 

CAF -Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina- apoya a la región de manera ágil y oportuna mediante una serie de instrumentos financieros y técnicos que complementan las medidas que están aplicando los gobiernos.

El Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE) y el Banco Central de Honduras (BCH) suscriben convenio para activar línea de crédito de contingencia por $200 millones de dólares. Estos recursos fortalecen la posición del BCH en el contexto de la emergencia sanitaria provocada por el COVID-19.

Unprecedented gathering of heads of government, institutions and industry cements commitment to accelerate development and delivery for all populations.

2020 Latin American and Caribbean Macroeconomic Report

Hace pocos años, la Unión Europea situó el concepto de “resiliencia” en el centro de su estrategia global y de seguridad. En un mundo más complejo, disputado e interconectado, se asumía que la seguridad y el bienestar enfrentaba nuevos desafíos geopolíticos y los riesgos transnacionales de la globalización. Ello exigía fortalecer la capacidad de cada país para encajar y sobreponerse a un choque externo. Ese era un objetivo de nuestra cooperación con los países en desarrollo, menos resilientes, pero también interpelaba a una UE que se sabía vulnerable ante esos riesgos.

The objective of this report is to provide a snapshot overview of the current trends and insights into disinformation activities related to COVID-19/Coronavirus. It does not provide a comprehensive or complete overview and focusses primarily on the external dimension, in line with the European External Action Service (EEAS) mandate. The report was authored by the EEAS Strategic Communications and Information Analysis Division, which contributes to the EU’s efforts to counter disinformation, including through detection, analysis and exposure of disinformation campaigns. In addressing disinformation and identifying and analysing disinformation surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, the EEAS is working closely with the European Commission and EU Member States. The EEAS also cooperates on this issue with international partners (G7, NATO and non-state actors). The results are regularly published on EUvsDisinfo.eu and social media channels. Insights are shared with EU institutions and EU Member States in real time, including through the Rapid Alert System on Disinformation.