From 11 to 12 June 2021 took place in Ružomberok / Slovakia a seminar about the “Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on employment and social dialogue”, organized by NKOS (Nezávislé krestanské odbory Slovenska), with the support of EZA and of the European Union.
The seminar was organized in a hybrid way. Participants were representatives of workers’ organisations from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Albania and Lithuania.
The aim of the project was based on the experience of social partners, international research to analyse the economic, labor and social impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on the labor market and to propose options for social protection of employees in times of crisis.
We were looking for answers to the following questions:
What impact did the COVID19 pandemic have on society in general and what impact did it have on individual groups of the population (seniors, children)?
What impact did the covid19 pandemic have on individual sectors of society (education, small and medium-sized enterprises, services sector)?
What were the most common problems identified in the workplace?
How did the experience of the pandemic manifest itself in the new collective bargaining?
What was the experience of foreign European partners?
The COVID-19 pandemic with its far-reaching socio-economic consequences calls for effective tripartite social dialogue and cooperation bringing together governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations to design effective strategies and policies to address its impacts. Trade unions have already been active designing and influencing measures at all levels to protect workers as they return to the workplace.
After the COVID-19 health crisis hit the world and thousands lost their lives, European workers must now face the massive social and economic consequences brought by the pandemic. Despite the measures taken to cushion the effect of lockdown on jobs and companies, the economic forecast depicts the most worrying picture. Reforms of labour law conducted in some countries (Slovakia too) have already considerably weakened worker representatives’ ability to engage into genuine dialogue with management to deal with critical cases.
Visitors of the conference were welcomed by Ľubica Černá, the president of NKOS together with the member of the Board NKOS Radislav Kendera.
HAS A PANDEMIC CHANGED OUR LIVES?
Speaker Prof. Anna Lesňáková, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Central Military Hospital in Ružomberok, professor of Faculty of health.
She presented a prevent transmission of COVID-19 that apply to all workplaces and all people at the workplace include frequent handwashing or disinfection with alcohol-based hand sanitizer, respiratory hygiene such as covering coughs, physical distancing of at least 1 metre or more according to the national recommendations, wearing of masks where distancing is not possible, regular environmental cleaning and disinfection, and limiting unnecessary travel. She accentuated, the vaccine is the final step in our effort to get back to a more normal way of life.
COUNSELLING FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF DURING A PANDEMIC.
Participants visited University Counselling Centre. Katarína Markovičová, Director of Counselling Centre presented program of centre and actual situation. Taking care of yourself can better equip you to take care of others. During times of social distancing, it is especially important to stay connected with friends and family. Helping others cope with stress through phone calls or video chats can help you and your loved ones feel less lonely or isolated.
COMPETENCIES OF EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.
Speaker: Marek Švec, Ph.D., LL.M. laywer, member of the Board of the Labor Law Association
He explained that the pandemic is affecting also workers’ organizations. Trade unions have done and are continuing to do important work throughout the pandemic in supporting their members and the population at large. Trade unions have been actively involved in policy making through social dialogue to influence policy decisions, such as employment retention schemes, wage subsidies and the extension of social protection to the most vulnerable workers. Trade unions have also been at the forefront of negotiations with employers to mitigate the adverse impacts of the crisis, ranging from occupational safety and health (OSH) measures to teleworking.
SAFETY AND HEALTH PROTECTION AT WORK DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC.BACK TO THE WORKPLACE AFTER COVID 19- ADAPTING WORKPLACES AND PROTECTING WORKERS
Speaker: Ivan Černý, the health and safety inspector of NKOS. He informed about the amendment of the law on health and safety and practical tips to make home-based telework as healthy, safe and effective as possible
HOW THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE LIVES OF SENIORS
Speaker: Lidmila Nemcová, Vice-President of the European Union of Senior Citizens, hKaPCzech Republic.
She emphasized that getting old is not a disease and should not be seen as such. She also stressed that loneliness is a big problem among the older generation, especially due to the current pandemic.
STRENGTHENING SOCIAL EUROPE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Aneta Szczykutowicz, opening speaker, a member of the EZA Council. She informed about aims, activities and EZA educational programme for the “European Social Dialogue”.
IMPACT OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON SOCIAL AREAS. Panel discussion
Panellists: Boleslav Vraný,hKaP Czech Republic, Aneta Szczykutowicz, FNS EDSLublin, Poland, Jaroslav Klaška, KOK Czech Republic
Impact of the COVID pandemic on employment in the Czech Republic. Speaker Boleslav Vrany informed that life in the country returned to normal except for a few preventive measures, such as face masks on public transport or a limited number of people in stores. The analysis reveals that the measures have had a sizeable impact on services, which play a less important role than goods in Czech exports.
Social integration and social entrepreneurship. Aneta Szczykutowicz presented that Poland was one of the first European countries to close its borders in response to COVID-19. The pandemic has been very taxing on young Polish workers from both employment and career perspectives. Almost 28 per cent (i.e. more than one in four) of those who were employed before the outbreak stopped working altogether, most notably those engaged in services, sales, crafts and related trades. This is higher than the global average of one in six people.
Social dialogue during the pandemic COVID 19 a view from Czech Republic. Adoption of a company support programme called “Antivirus” – a final version of the Antivirus employment protection programme, in which the state will contribute to employers' salaries. Companies have to fulfil several conditions, for example they must strictly follow the Labour Code, employees must not be in their probationary period and the employer must pay wages and make all legal deductions. They also have to prove that any liquidity problems are connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of state compensation paid to employers is derived from the average super-gross wage, including mandatory contributions (48,400 CZK), and depends on the reasons why they had to put employees on “a barrier to work”. Employers will be able to apply through Labour Office for a contribution in two schemes.
IMPACT OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC ON INDIVIDUAL ECONOMIC SECTORS AND EDUCATION. Discussion panel
Panelists: Monika Drag, Higher School of Entrepreneurship and Administration in Lublin PL., Andras Bardocz Todor, KPSZT Hungary, Sali Metani, SAUATT Albania, Assoc. Prof. Lolita Vilka, Headof the Department, Department of Welfare and Social Work, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia
Social distance and the impact of the pandemic on students and university staff view of Poland. Monika Drag informed about pandemic situation in the universities. The forms of online learning introduced due to the pandemic constraints were something new and unknown to students that they had to learn. Especially students in the first years of studies (which are usually difficult anyway), who are used to a different mode of study, which took place in upper secondary schools. Studying from home commonly requires greater self-discipline and motivation to follow through online lessons, particularly in the earlier period when students are getting used to the new system which might affect the feeling of an increase in study obligations.
Impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic on vocational training in Hungary. The schools become a more dangerous working environment for both teachers and students, it is important to adapt to the unfortunate changes that are present. Violence in schools against staff is a bigger threat than it once was, with many students lacking respect for figures of authority. Working in such a challenging environment can be difficult for many teachers and ensuring the right safety measures are in place can make it a little easier. Schools look at the challenges teachers are facing, and how they can incorporate new safety procedures into the management of the institution. That is why discipline in our country is not only the teachers rule, for example in Hungary some months ago introduced the school guard position. “The school guard, (without the right to use weapons,) has a coercive means and performs a public task with special rights.” That means he can apply physical violence.
The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on enterprises in Albania. Adjustments to employment in Albania has been very widespread. Twenty eight percent of firms reduced the number of permanent workers. The government’s most important firm-level support appears to have been wage subsidies which is an effective instrument for temporary shocks.
The impact of the covid-19 for labour market in Latvia. The highest unemployment rate since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis was reached in the second quarter of 2020, when the average unemployment rate rose to 8.6% in Latvia
Several participants reported on the current state of the spread of the covid 19 pandemic in their country. We discussed together the measures that are being taken to protect the population and the economy. The Covid-19 crisis has greatly affected everyone worldwide. But workers in healthcare and other fields of care, as well as those working in vital services and sectors like retail, food production and transport, have been shouldering the most. They have also taken the biggest risks, with their health and safety at work insufficiently protected too often.
EXPERIENCES AND OTHER CHALLENGES FOR THE POSTCOVID PERIOD.
Speakers: Martina Radošovská, Martina Dlholucká, Gabriela Dušová, Zuzana Mikulíková, Ján Šunderlík (representatives of NKOS) presented good practices of online education.
One of the areas facing this unexpected and brand-new situation is education, which is traditionally conducted in person (unless we consider part-time university studies attended usually by people who are at the same time fully employed). Obviously, all stages of education are impacted, ranging from primary education, through secondary education to higher education and training. Teachers and lecturers need to find solutions to appropriately address the content to be taught, whereby many of them have never used the available online platforms before, and neither have pupils and students.
Recommendations
The crisis is also seriously affecting the core functions of trade unions, which raises important questions: How is COVID-19 affecting the capacity of trade unions to influence policy making and engage in inclusive and effective social dialogue? What capacities do trade unions have to be the voice of ALL workers? And to what extent have people relied on trade unions during the crisis to improve labour and social protection? In effect, asking these questions allows trade union leaders to reflect on what these transitions mean for their organizations. It is important to understand the implications of the transitions for the members, all members, in their diversity. Trade unions need to know the significance of these transitions for their organizational operation. The current context is compelling workers’ organizations to take stock of the risks and opportunities brought about by the multiple changes in the world of work, which include the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and to consider possible scenarios for progressive change.