RESEARCH TITLE: “THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE WORKING PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF TRADE UNIONS”

 4th June 2020

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has already infected over 6 million people resulting in more than 300,000 deaths globally, has transformed into an economic and labour market shock. It has impacted not only the supply (production of goods and services) but also demand (consumption and investment).

Disruptions to production, initially in Asia, have now spread to supply chains across the world. All businesses, regardless of size, are facing serious challenges, especially those in the aviation, tourism and hospitality industries, with a real threat of significant declines in revenue, insolvencies and job losses in specific sectors.

Following travel bans, border closures and quarantine measures, many workers cannot move to their places of work or carry out their jobs, which has knock-on effects on incomes, particularly for informal and casually- employed workers. Consumers in many economies are unable or reluctant to purchase goods and services. Given the current environment of uncertainty and fear, enterprises are likely to delay investments, purchases of goods and the hiring of workers.

Prospects for the economy and the quantity and quality of employment are deteriorating rapidly. While updated forecasts vary considerably — and largely underestimate the situation — they all point to a significant negative impact on the global economy, at least in the first half of 2020. These worrisome figures show growing signs of a global economic recession.

Swift and coordinated policy responses are needed at national and global level, with strong multilateral leadership, to limit the direct health effects of COVID-19 on workers and their families, while mitigating the indirect economic fallout across the global economy.

Protecting workers and their families from the risk of infection needs to be a top priority. Demand-side measures to protect those facing income losses because of infection or reduced economic activity are critical to stimulating the economy.

Governments from the SADC Region have announced several measures to deal with COVID-19 and some are exploring stimulus packages to assist businesses and workers. Most businesses are forced to shut down and others to cut-down on operating hours. Workers are encouraged to telework to curb the spread.

At the same time, some Workers’ Organisations in the SADC region are providing guidelines to their members and workers on how to deal with COVID-19 in their workplaces. For example, Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) provides information on its website and gives the number of a national hotline. Its affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers has also posted a list of requests to respond effectively to the crisis, in collaboration with the industry and the government. At regional level, the Southern Africa Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC) held a virtual meeting for Workers’ Organisations in the SADC region on 2^nd April 2020 to share information on (i) measures put in place by Governments to deal with the economic effects of COVID-19 in the immediate and short term, and (ii) concerns by Trade Union organisations when negotiating at workplace, sectoral and national levels amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH

This research is aimed at strengthening SATUCC’s capacity as well as that of its affiliates to derive concrete and practical interventions on the catastrophic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Africa. Most importantly, SATUCC will be able to use this research to inform the development of a harmonised position on the current challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on the working people within the framework of decent work agenda. In addition, SATUCC will also be able to significantly contribute towards the various on-going consultations, drafting and implementation of multi-sectoral responses on the devastating impacts of COVID-19 pandemic at both national and regional level.

GUIDING RESEARCH QUESTIONS / SCOPE

1. What are the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economies of Southern Africa?
2. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected working people in Southern Africa?
3. Which sectors in Southern Africa have been hit the worst by the COVID-19 pandemics?
4. Which countries in Southern Africa have been hit the worst by the COVID-19 pandemic? (and why?)
5. How has the COVID-19 pandemic specifically impacted on migrant workers in Southern Africa?
6. Are there any threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on national and regional efforts towards transitioning from informal to formal economies in Southern Africa as stipulated by the ILO Recommendation 204?
7. What are state responses to the COVID-19 outbreak in Southern Africa?
8. What are employers’ responses to the COVID-19 outbreak in Southern Africa?
9. What should be the roles of trade unions in responding to the devastating impacts of COVID-19?
10. What are the key policies at both national and regional level that can mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the world of work?
11. Are there any good practices from Southern Africa and beyond in responding (government, employers and trade unions) to the devastating impacts of COVID-19?
12. Setting up of a mechanism/template for mapping and tracking employers’ and government interventions on COVID-19 pandemic.

OVERALL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RESEARCH

The research must put forward feasible, concrete recommendations on necessary interventions to curb the impacts of global pandemics such as COVID-19. SATUCC has strong gender equality requirements / targets through the implementation of its Gender Policy. Therefore, the research process and content must be gender sensitive.

Font; Times New Roman, Font size: 12; Single line spacing, standard editing and grammar, Harvard referencing; additional information can be attached as annexes and/or endnotes to the mainstream text; all data, graphs, tables, cartoons, diagrams and quotes must be fully referenced – with referenced provided in the annex. Any text presented in the publication that are the authors’ but have been published must be fully referenced. Strictly no plagiarism. Text must be original (no plagiarism), as SATUCC will publish the document and have an ISBN number for the publication.

All efforts must be made to use up-to-date data/information where applicable.

Administrative arrangements and deliverables

1. The assignment must be undertaken within four weeks.
2. The assignment will commerce upon the signing of a contract by the researcher(s) / consultant(s);
3. A contract will be drafted and signed with SATUCC on the 16^th June 2020;
4. A draft of the research paper must be submitted by the 15th July 2020;
5. Comments will be sent back to the researcher(s) / consultant(s) by the 25^th July 2020.
6. The researcher(s) / consultant(s) will be given 5 working days to incorporate comments. The revised draft must be submitted on the 30^th July 2020);
7. The researcher(s) / consultant(s) will be required to make a presentation of the revised draft of the paper before SATUCC, its affiliates and key stakeholders where further comments and inputs will be made. This will be on the 15^th August 2020. Only after this process will the researcher(s) / consultant(s) be able to finalise the research paper.
8. The final paper must be finalised and submitted to SATUCC no later than the 30^th August 2020.
9. The final paper will be reviewed by SATUCC to ensure that all comments were incorporated and will give the final approval and acceptance of the research paper.

Consultancy requirements

1. Relevant graduate degree.
2. At least 5 years of professional working experience at national or regional levels on regional integration and development including labour related matters.
3. Analytical skills with ability to write and review technical reports where applicable during desk research.
4. Proven experience in development research and strong writing skills.
5. A strong background and or understanding of trade unions in Southern Africa will be an added advantage.

How to apply

1. A bio of the researcher(s) / consultants not more than 300 words.
2. A CV for each member of the consultancy team (for consultancy team submissions).
3. A sample of similar work recently done
4. A brief concept note (maximum 5 pages) in line with the ToRs that includes background, problem statement, research objectives, research methodology, work plan, tentative structure for the report, budget among other items.

All expressions of interest must be submitted no later than 12^th June 2020 to the SATUCC Executive Secretary by email: info@satucc.org copied to: mavis.koogotsitse@satucc.org