On 30 June 2020, a panel discussion was conducted by Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism [GRFDT] on the topic “The Pandemic In Africa: Local Responses And Global Strategies”.
During the virtual panel discussion series organized by GRFDT, ILO’s Chief technical advisor for inclusive education and jobs at Kenya, Miss Caroline Njuki said that Building Back Better must address migrant issues. An initiative by WHO , it should not only be applied to regional levels, said Miss Caroline.
COVID-19 and Multilateral Institutions
On the question what multilateral institutions are doing for the implementation and development of migration policies, Caroline put forth the data released by ILO which specifically aimed the labour sector and enterprises and their impact on COVID 19. The data released specifically aims different sectors called COVID monitor have been very much helpful to governments and other organizations for effective policy formulations.
Effects of Lockdown
According to Caroline, the subsequent lockdown due to the pandemic has affected all the sectors of the society. Many school going children and final year students cannot complete school and are not able to get to the next level of training. Many young people are not able to find internships and apprenticeships, and is unable to make any income.
In the published data, many enterprises and businesses have been unable to pay loans and are in the verge of shut down. So the employers had to cut down the wages and working hours of the employees.
African Migrants and COVID-19
Since migrants are not allowed to form trade unions or to join in any, ensuring a continuous social dialogue between the employers and migrants has been at risk. In order to have an effective relation between employers, workers and Government, migrant issues must also be addressed.
Socio Economic Response Framework
Formulated by The UN Secretary General, the Socio Economic Response Framework, to guide member states to Building Back Better, prioritize health, macro fiscal policies, restructuring debt, giving support to businesses and people, etc. At present, since many people lost their jobs and are struggling to push their living, it should also aim to promote social cohesion between migrant workers and other communities.
Labour Mobility
The retail and manufacturing sectors where most of the migrants work, have been hit the worst by the pandemic. Many of these enterprises have been shut down and many migrants had lost their job. This resulted in the reduction of remittances which the diaspora had send back home. Many labour migrants are out of employment, there is no income replacement and socio protection schemes to them. Government has not included these businesses under the relief measures. With their own citizens giving prime importance, the plight of migrant workers are miserable.
Safety Measure
Since the migrant workers are not covered with health insurances, they cannot access health care services. These migrants usually live in congested areas like slums. In these cases, the norms of social distancing are difficult to implement. These agglomerations also have no proper sanitation facilities.
Migrant Inclusiveness
In order to reach the fruits of relief measure to everyone in the society, migrant workers should also be given due importance. Regional level measures will never only benefit, but also needs a broader level perspective.
Support
At the very beginning of the pandemic, Africa was importing masks. From that situation, till now they have been making sanitizers and ventilators. Taking all these into account, the government should focus on improving bilateral and multilateral pacts to support innovations, Miss Caroline concluded.
Unnikrishnan V is pursuing Masters in Economics. He has a deep-rooted interest in Migration, Development and Health issues. Twitter ID – @unnikrishnan_21