Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, called for job protection in COVID-19.

In a video message to launch a policy brief on COVID-19 and jobs, Guterres said the pandemic has turned upside down the world of work.

As the cornerstone for a green, sustainable, and resilient recovery, he called for a concerted global, regional, and national initiative to establish decent work for all.

Guterres called for action on three fronts — urgent support for at-risk workers, companies, jobs, and incomes; greater focus on health and economic development after lockdowns, with safe workplaces and rights at stake for women and populations; efforts to create a human-centered, green and sustainable climate, and an ambitious recovery that harnesses the power of digital technologies to create decent jobs for all.

“There is a lot of talk about the need for a ‘new normal’ after this crisis. But let’s not forget that the pre-COVID-19 world was far from normal,” he said.

“Rising inequalities, systemic gender discrimination, lack of opportunities for young people, stagnant wages, runaway climate change — none of these things were normal.”

The pandemic exposed tremendous shortcomings, fragilities, and fault lines. The world of work cannot and should not look the same after this crisis. It is time for a coordinated global, regional and national effort to create decent work for all as the foundation of a green, inclusive and resilient recovery, Guterres said, adding, “for example, a shift of taxation from payroll to carbon could help to go a long way in this direction.”

With intelligent and timely action at all levels and the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 as a guide, the world can emerge stronger from this crisis, with better jobs and a brighter, fairer and greener future for all, reported a Chinese news agency.