The COVID-19 pandemic has brought permanent changes to world economies. It has presented enormous challenges for governments, businesses, workers, and households. Lockdown policies and government efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on lives and livelihoods, as well as the economic impact, have shaped the evolution of the labor market. Millions of workers have been exposed to income losses and layoffs, and the impact has been particularly severe for unprotected workers and the most vulnerable groups in the informal economy, which constitutes a considerable share of economic activity and employment in MENA. In addition, women are among the most affected groups, as they are overrepresented in sectors most exposed to contagion (health and education), and bear a disproportionate burden in care work, with the closure of schools and kindergartens.
The webinar is organized by the Economic Research Forum (ERF) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). It aims to disseminate the key findings of the 5 research papers on the impact of COVID-19 in selected MENA countries and to open a dialogue between researchers and stakeholders to inform the policy debate on the implications of the shock and associated coping mechanisms.
