COVID-19 represents a new type of occupational disease, with rapid onset of symptoms rather than the traditional long latency period. The need for immediate and urgent action by governments and workplaces to safeguard workers means new ways of diagnosing, recording and notifying are required to meet this challenge and to evaluate the burden and impact on workplaces and social security systems. In this session, panelists will address this challenge with a focus on the virtual OSH training and technology as a tool in the response to COVID-19, the development and dissemination of workplace infection prevention practices in the context to COVID-19, and the new complexities COVID-19 brings to already existing legal issues related to prevention and health data.

Panelists:
Prof. Dr. Joachim Breuer, President, International Social Security Association
Prof. Dr. Seong-Kyu Kang, MD, PhD, Professor, Gachon University Gil Medical Centre and Vice President, International Commission on Occupational Health, Republic of Korea
Prof. Dr. Katherine Lippel, Distinguished Research Chair on Occupational Health and Safety Law, University of Ottawa, Canada
Mr. Emad Rizkalla, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bluedrop Performance Learning, Canada
Prof. Dr. Andrew Sharman, President, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, United Kingdom

Moderator:
Ms. Vera Paquete-Perdigão, Director of the Governance and Tripartism Department, International Labour Organization

Languages:
English, French, German, Spanish

The session will explore the intersected relationships between occupational safety and health, business continuity and resilience, employment and labour rights in a context of COVID-19. It will debate the short and medium-term role of safety and health at work in the definition of economic and social policy responses to build back better.

The first panel will debate how safety and health at work will continue to support effective response against COVID-19 contagion, preparations for recovery and, in addition, to being a key contributing factor for quality job creation, retention and strengthening of national social dialogue. Further, panelists will inform on how the International Labour Organization has made use of the integrated policy approach and how the diverse dimensions interact for a safe and sustainable recovery, highlighting as possible practical examples. The panel will further look into the future with particular focus on how countries and workplace can be better prepared in addressing any future safety and health challenges of a global nature.

The second panel will highlight the importance of a consistent and coordinated global approach to address worldwide occupational safety and health challenges, including COVID-19. The session will show case the example of the Global Coalition for Safety and Health at Work and will invite panelists to a dialogue on opportunities and challenges of this type of initiative, and how they envisage in the Coalitions’ work the intersect of occupational safety and health with other variables covering labour rights, employment and economic growth.

Opening:
Ms. Martha Newton, Deputy Director-General for Policy, International Labour Organization

Round Table One: Integrated policy approach for safe work in a COVID-19 and recovery period: the ILO experience - Speakers :
Ms. Corinne Vargha, Director, International Labour Standards Department, International Labour Organization
Mr. Vic Van Vuuren, Director, Enterprises Department, International Labour Organization
Dr. Sangheon Lee, Director, Employment Department, International Labour Organization
Ms. Manuela Tomei, Director, WorkQuality Department, International Labour Organization
Ms. Vera Paquete-Perdigão, Governance and Tripartism Department, International Labour Organization
Mr. Vinicius Pinheiro, Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean, International Labour Organization

View of Social Partners - Speakers:
Mr. Kris de Meester, International Organization of Employers (Global Coalition Steering Committee Member)
Mr. Owen Tudor, Deputy General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation, Belgium

Round Table Two: Multidisciplinary and multilateral action for common problems: the case of the Global Coalition for Safety and Health at Work - Speakers:
Mr. William Cockburn, Head of Prevention and Research Unit, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (Global Coalition task group on occupational safety and health and the Future of Work)
Dr. Johannes Siegrist, Senior professor, Centre for Health and Society, Heinrich-Heine University, Germany (Global coalition task group on promotion of SDG work and productive employment through higher education)
Mr. Tommi Alanko, Director, Institute of Occupational Health, Finland (Global Coalition task group on vision zero at enterprise level)
Mr. Antonio Cammarota, Principal Administrator, DG EMPL/B3, European Commission (Global Coalition task group on multiregional occupational safety and health data systems)
Dr. Jukka Takala, President, International Commission of Occupational Health

Closing:
Mr. Joaquim Pintado Nunes, Chief, Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Branch, International Labour Organization

Moderator:
Ms. Conny Czymoch, cc Media

Languages:
English, French and Spanish