According to the latest ILO Report on COVID-19, a number of key economic sectors can be identified as suffering from a drastic fall in output. These sectors employ 1.25 billion workers around the world, representing almost 38 percent of the global workforce. Depending on the country context, these workers are facing a drastic and devastating reduction in working hours, wage cuts and layoffs. Accommodation and food services sector is also severely affected, accounting for 144 million workers. More than half of these workers are women.
Backed by this dramatic analysis, IUF, the International Union for Food, Farm and Hotel Workers published two guides. The first contains the IUF demands for the hotel sector to support their affiliates to protects jobs and negotiate for safe workplaces. The second ones advocates for a gender responsive approach to COVID-19 which recognizes that in addition to their employment, women often also have to take care of their families, elderly and sick relatives. It also highlights that quarantine and physical isolation have led to an increase in domestic violence. A gender responsive approach to the COVID-19 crisis is essential across the whole of society to ensure that gender inequalities are not exacerbated in the context of this pandemic. Both guides are addressed to employers and governments propose measures to protect workers.