Reports
Latin America and the Caribbean experience slight increase in unemployment

The labour
markets of Latin America and the Caribbean are going through a moment of
uncertainty, which can be seen in a slight rise in the regional unemployment
rate and these signs of instability could get worse in 2020. These key findings
were presented today during the launch of the 2019 Labour Overview of Latin
America and the Caribbean.
“The labour market situation is complex,” said Mr Juan Hunt, Regional
Director a.i. of the ILO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean,
while speaking during the report launch event in the Peruvian capital.
The estimated average regional unemployment rate for the end of 2019 is 8.1 per
cent, compared to the 8.0 per cent rate for 2018. While the increase is small,
it still means that more than 25 million people are actively looking for
employment and they are not finding work.
This upward trend in unemployment could increase and reach 8.4 per cent in 2020
if the region continues to experience moderate economic growth. The latest
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) estimates place
the average growth of 2019 at 0.1 per cent and forecast a low level for 2020 of
1.3 per cent.
The report emphasizes that there is an upward trend behind the regional average
unemployment rate. The rise in unemployment was predominant in nine of 14 Latin
American countries. In the English-speaking Caribbean, on the other hand, there
was a decrease in unemployment by 0.7 percentage points.
The Labour Overview also highlights the relevance of Brazil and Mexico in the
regional average. It notes that without including these two countries, the
average unemployment rate would register a more pronounced increase of 0.5 per
cent, according to the data as of the third quarter of 2019.
The report adds that despite the continuous increase in women’s labour
participation, which reached 50.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2019, it is
still more than 20 percentage points below that of men, which is 74.3 per cent.
In 2019, female unemployment rose 0.2 percentage points in the regional
average, to 10.2 per cent, while that of men remained unchanged at 7.3 per
cent. This indicates that the increase in regional unemployment
disproportionately affected women.
The situation of youth in the region is alarming. In the third quarter of 2019,
the regional unemployment rate was 19.8 per cent, which implies that one in
five young people in the labour force cannot find employment. This is the
highest level recorded of that rate in the last decade.
“The lack of decent work opportunities for young people causes great concern
because it is a source of discouragement and frustration. This has been
reflected in the front line of recent protests in the region, calling for
changes to aim for a better future,” said Mr Hunt.
Social demands and instability
The ILO
Regional Director also emphasized that recent demonstrations in the region by
citizens calling for better opportunities and greater equality are evidence of
the persistence of decent work deficits.
“Opportunities to access decent and productive employment, with fair wages,
social inclusion, social protection and labour rights, are key to responding to
social demands. They also ensure that the benefits of growth reach everyone and
guarantee good governance,” said Mr Hunt.
Speaking on the employment quality findings included in the report, Mr Hugo
Ñopo, the ILO Regional Economist who coordinated the Labour Overview, explained
that, “the dynamics of economic slowdown since mid-2018 have had an impact on
the structure and quality of jobs.”
Ñopo stressed that since 2018 there is a lower growth in salaried employment
compared to self-employment, especially non-professional employment. He also
emphasized that these are signs of “a relative instability of the jobs that are
being created in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
The report also states that there is a tendency to increase in the indicators
of under-occupation due to insufficient working time. The percentage of
employed people who work less than 35 hours and want to work more increased in
10 of the 11 countries with available data.
Referring to the economic slowdown experienced by the region in the last year,
Ñopo warned that “the impacts on the labour market are not yet fully
reflected”, due to the lag in the demand for employment.
The ILO specialist stated that the challenge for the countries of the region is
clear: “integrate the more than 25 million unemployed and give decent
employment to an even greater and diverse number of people who are hoping to
benefit economically.”
Reports
Aviation Sector Calls for Unified Cybersecurity Practices to Mitigate Growing Risks

The aviation industry needs to unify its approach to prevent cybersecurity shocks, according to a new study released today by the World Economic Forum. The increased level of interdependencies can lead to systemic risks and cascading effects as airlines, airports and aircraft manufacturing take different approaches to countering cyber risks.
To guard against these risks and create a streamlined approach with civil aviation authorities, the World Economic Forum has launched the Cyber Resilience in Aviation initiative in collaboration with more than 50 companies.
The latest report, Pathways to a Cyber Resilient Aviation Industry, developed in collaboration with Deloitte, outlines how the industry – from airlines to airports to manufacturing and the supply chain – can work with a common language and baseline of practices. The report focuses on mitigating the impact of future digital threats on multiple levels:
International:
· Aligning regulations globally
· Establishing a baseline of cyber resilience across the supply and value chain
· Designing an impartial assessment and benchmarking framework
· Developing international information-sharing standards
National:
· Enabling reskilling
· Rewarding more open communication on aviation incidents
Organizational:
· Integrating cyber resilience in business resilience practices
· Ensuring risk assessment and prioritization
· Improving collaboration
“The aviation industry has developed a strong track record of safety, resilience and security practices for physical threats and must integrate cyber risks into this culture of safety and resilience,” said Georges De Moura, Head of Industry Solutions, Centre for Cybersecurity, World Economic Forum. “A common understanding and approach to existing and emerging threats will enable industry and government actors to embrace a risk-informed cybersecurity approach to ensure a secure and resilient aviation ecosystem.”
“The work of the World Economic Forum on aviation cyber resilience complements these global efforts led by the ICAO and is another excellent example of the importance of broad-based international collaboration among public and private stakeholders,” said Fang Liu, Secretary-General, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“Adopting a collaborative cyber-resilience stance and creating trust between cross-sector organizations, national and supranational authorities is the logical yet challenging next step,” said Chris Verdonck, Partner, Deloitte, Belgium. “However, if the effort is not collective, cyber risks will persist for all. Further solidifying an extensive and inclusive community and developing and implementing a security baseline is key to adapt to the current digital reality.”
The Cyber Resilience in Aviation initiative has enabled organizations to create plans as a community to safeguard against current and future risks. It convenes over 80 experts from more than 50 organizations across global aviation and technology companies, international organizations, trade associations and national government agencies. Major collaborators include ICAO, NCSC, EASA, IATA, ACI, Eurocontrol and UK CAA.
The recommendations and principles developed by the community have been published in a set of reports, allowing companies worldwide to learn from their insights and develop their own policies to ensure cybersecurity in aviation.
Reports
Wide Variations in Post-COVID ‘Return to Normal’ Expectations

A new IPSOS/World Economic Forum survey found that almost 60% expect a return to pre-COVID normal within the next 12 months. including 6% who think this is already the case, 9% who think it will take no more than three months, 13% four to six months, and 32% seven to 12 months (the median time). About one in five think it will take more than three years (10%) or that it will never happen (8%).
Views on when to expect a return to normal vary widely across countries: Over 70% of adults in Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, and mainland China are confident their life will return to pre-COVID normal within a year. In contrast, 80% in Japan and more than half in France, Italy, South Korea, and Spain expect it will take longer.
At a global level, expectations about how long it will take before one’s life can return to its pre-COVID normal and how long it will take for the pandemic to be contained are nearly identical. These findings suggest that people across the world consider that being able to return to “normal” life is entirely dependent on containing the pandemic.
An average of 45% of adults globally say their mental and emotional health has gotten worse since the beginning of the pandemic about a year ago. However, one in four say their mental health has improved since the beginning of the year (23%), about as many that say it has worsened (27%).
How long before coronavirus pandemic is contained?
Similar to life returning to pre-COVID normal, 58% on average across all countries and markets surveyed expect the pandemic to be contained within the next year, including 13% who think this is already the case or will happen within 3 months, 13% between four and six months and 32% between seven and 12 months (the median time in most markets).
Majorities in India, China, and Saudi Arabia think the pandemic is already contained or will be within the next 6 months. In contrast, four in five in Japan and more than half in Australia, France, Poland, Spain, and Sweden expect it will take more than a year.
Change in emotional and mental health since beginning of the pandemic about a year ago
On average across the 30 countries and markets surveyed, 45% of adults say their emotional and mental health has gotten worse since the beginning of the pandemic about a year ago, three times the proportion of adults who say it has improved (16%)
In 11 countries, at least half report a decline in their emotional and mental health with Turkey (61%), Chile (56%), and Hungary (56%) showing the largest proportions.
Reports
African fisheries need reforms to boost resilience after Covid-19

The African fisheries sector could benefit substantially from proper infrastructure and support services, which are generally lacking. The sector currently grapples with fragile value chains and marketing, weak management institutions and serious issues relating to the governance of fisheries resources.
These were the findings of a study that the African Natural Resources Centre conducted from March to May 2020. The centre is a non-lending department of the African Development Bank. The study focused on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in four countries – Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal and Seychelles. The countries’ economies depend heavily on marine fisheries. The fisheries sector is also a very large source of economic activity elsewhere in Africa. It provides millions of jobs all over the continent.
The study dwells on appropriate and timely measures that the four countries have taken to avoid severe supply disruptions, save thousands of jobs and maintain governance transparency amid the ongoing global uncertainty and crisis.
Infrastructure shortcomings include landing facilities, storage and processing capacity, social and sanitary equipment, water and power, ice production, and roads to access markets.
Based on the findings, researchers made recommendations to strengthen the resilience of Africa’s fisheries sector in the context of a prolonged crisis, and looking ahead to a post-Covid-19 recovery.
The report strongly advocates for:
– Increased acknowledgment of the essential role of marine fisheries stakeholders and the right of artisanal fishermen to access financial and material resources.
– Strengthening the collection of gender-disaggregated statistical data in a sector that employs a vast number of women and youth.
– Establishing infrastructure and support services at landing and processing sites of fishery products, with priority access to water.
– Investing in human capital to ensure high-level skills in the different areas of fisheries management.
– Improving governance frameworks by encouraging the private sector and civil society to participate in formulating sectoral policies and resource management measures.
The study recommends urgent reforms to make marine fisheries more resilient and enable the sector to contribute sustainably to the wealth of the continent’s coastal countries.
Marine fisheries are a crucial contributor to food security and quality of life in Africa. Good nutrition is a key factor to quality of life, and the marine fisheries sector supports the nutrition of more than 300 million people, the majority of whom are children, youth and women. It also provides more than 10 million direct and indirect jobs.
Dominated by artisanal fishing and traditional value chains, the fisheries sector in Africa is mainly informal and is rarely considered in public policies or in assessing the wealth of countries.
Like other sectors, the African fisheries sector has been severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid has affected supply markets and regional trade. This has resulted in substantial economic losses for most households that depend on fisheries.
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