- Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy-Secretary-General
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the vulnerability of countries already beset by disasters and conflict. Even before the global health crisis, many people were suffering from high rates of unemployment and poverty, which put them at danger of social unrest. Countries plagued by fragility, conflict, and disaster are less equipped to plan for future crises as a result of factors like these. The cornerstone of robust and peaceful civilizations has been proved to be decent labour. In the context of COVID-19, it is more vital than ever.
A Frail World
As things stand, the COVID-19 pandemic poses an urgent threat to 1.6 billion people's livelihoods. However, approximately 2 billion people around the world were already dealing with the aftermath of disaster and violence prior to the outbreak. We say people are living in a precarious position or under fragile conditions when they are constantly on the verge of a crisis - when even a minor disaster could tip them over the edge. COVID-19 provides even additional hazards to individuals already locked in precarious conditions, making them less capable of dealing with future shocks.
The Cruel Loop
The term "fragile" has traditionally been used to describe countries or regions that have been affected by war or armed conflict, but it is now most commonly used to describe a situation in which societal, political, economic, security, and environmental factors combine to create ongoing or recurring vulnerability. Crucially, in the domain of labour, fragility implies that employees and employers can no longer access or supply adequate jobs, compounding existing vulnerabilities. The best way to think of fragility is as a vicious loop.
What Role Does Employment Play in Promoting Peace?
The Issue at Hand:
- Social separation, exclusion, and mistrust: It is simple for various social groups to create negative impressions of one another when they have minimal contact or interaction. These dividers can lead to conflict if they get too deep.
- Lack of economic opportunities: When people are unemployed and have little possibility of getting work, the cost of engaging in violence is minimal. When a large number of people are unable to find respectable work, the likelihood of collective violence increases.
- Injustice, inequality, and discrimination as grievances: Inequality, discrimination, voicelessness, and a general lack of human and labour rights frequently lead to violent conflicts. Grievances can become politicised and violent when an aggrieved group blames others or the state for a perceived injustice.
The Solution is:
- Contact, social cohesion, and trust: Employment programmes improve social cohesion by bringing people together, offering chances for dialogue, and increasing relationships between governments, workers' and employers' organisations.
- Access to livelihoods: Employment, as well as the income it brings, raises the opportunity cost of violence. Working-age populations are less likely to engage in political and armed violence when they have excellent job opportunities and strong social safety coverage.
- Social justice perceptions: Individual grievances can be addressed before they become politicised through inclusive and transparent employment and social protection programmes, which aim to increase equity in livelihood prospects as well as the quality and rights at work through social conversation and participatory forums.
The Road to Tenacity
Fragility is the polar opposite of resilience.
In the face of disasters, pandemics, economic shocks, and conflict, a resilient society can adapt and recover. Resilient society is prepared for a catastrophe and can alleviate the worst effects while rebuilding in ways that promote economic and social progress. A robust society will, sooner rather than later, find its way back to peace and stability.
When a disaster or conflict occurs, the international community responds with humanitarian help to reduce human casualties while also minimising material, economic, and environmental losses. However, when such catastrophes have damaged a society, it is more exposed than ever to new shocks and threats. This is why development work cannot be separated from or viewed as an afterthought to humanitarian initiatives.
A Bright Future for Respectable Work and a Peaceful Future
Even the most heinous conflict or natural tragedy can give rise to optimism for the future. In the aftermath of a disaster, societies are often more open to change. This can be seen in the debates that have erupted in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
We may all aspire to a brighter tomorrow, according to the ILO, if we continue to focus on decent work for all. The crux of the issue is as evident today as it was in 1919: social fairness is the only way to generate resilience and long-term peace in times of crisis.
Author Details:
Name: Vachi Vidyarthi
Batch: 2021-23
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