Day 1: 13:00-15:30 Tokyo time
Day 2: 13:00-15:40 Tokyo time

The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to unprecedented employment losses, disproportionately affecting youth, women, migrant, and informal workers. Pandemic responses in many developing Asian economies have included massive cash transfer programs to stabilize household incomes and stimulate consumption. However, these programs are temporary crisis measures, while employment losses may be lengthy or permanent. Moreover, while income support can help low-skilled workers maintain a basic living standard, it cannot provide them with the skills needed to move to better quality work.

Active labor market programs focused on upskilling, reskilling, and on-the-job training could enhance the income-generating potential of the unemployed or underemployed and accelerate pandemic recovery, but these programs are vastly underutilized in the region. In addition, it is often difficult for the poor to join skill-building programs due to work and family obligations.

Organized by ADBI and the Asian Development Bank’s Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department, this virtual conference featured policy papers focusing on skills and labor market programs that could boost decent work and support pandemic recovery in Asia and the Pacific.

See more about this ADBI event.