The virtual meeting "The Social Impact of Covid-19 on all Workers: The Launching of PSI Study" will be held on 29th June 2021, 14.30 - 16.00 CET / 15.30 - 17.00 Beirut time, in Commemoration of 20th June World Refugee Day. Interpretation will be available in English and Arabic.

Register here

Meeting ID: 993 0400 2864

Background

While the year 2021 marks the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Geneva Convention on the Status of Refugees, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to weigh heavily on the world at all levels. In addition to the health issues, it causes unprecedented economic and social crises and affects the most vulnerable.

The Arab World, is one of the regions the most hit by the negative impact of the crisis. Already suffering from wars and conflicts and hosting the largest number of displaced people, the pandemic exposed the scarcity of the public health sector, while only few wealthy people can benefit from the private health services where profit comes first. The pandemic also led to severe repercussions at the economic, social, and political levels. Unemployment is expected to increase by an average of 1.2 percentage points, meaning the loss of around 1.7 million jobs. The Arab region registers some of the highest rates of inequality around the world, and informal employment accounts for 50% of jobs. It also lacks universal social protection systems and is thus unable to protect workers and ensure their dignity during work stoppages. Vulnerable groups, including Refugees are the most affected.

Assessing the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on societies, economies and vulnerable groups is fundamental for trade unions, as a prerequisite step towards the formulation of a trade union response to the crisis.

In the framework of its project “Human Rights, Trade Unions and Quality Public Services for Refugees and Migrant Workers”, PSI is inviting you to participate to its virtual symposium in commemoration of World Refugee Day. It will be an occasion for the “Launching of Public Services International study on the social impact of the Corona pandemic on male and female workers”. The symposium will also shed the light on the situation of the most vulnerable groups, including the Refugees

Agenda

Moderator:

• Najwa Hanna, PSI Sub Regional Secretary for Arab Countries

Speakers

• Genevieve Genecianos, PSI Migration Program officer: Universal and Equal Access to Covid-19 Vaccines for Refugees

• Chahnaz El Zein, PSI project coordinator for Arab countries: Update on PSI project, Human Rights, Trade Unions and Quality Public Services for Refugees and Migrant Workers

• Ghassasn Slaiby, Researcher and Trade Union Expert: Launching PSI study on the Social Impact of COVID 19 on all Workers in the Arab countries

• Georges Talamas: Basmeh W Zeitouneh, Civil Society Organization: The situation of Refugee in Lebanon, between the reality and the Geneva Convention.

Followed by a Plenary Discussion, Wrap up and closing remarks