Debt and Covid: The Recovery Must Not Come at the Expense of Workers

By Daniel Bertossa, Assistant General Secretary, Public Services International

As governments across Africa grapple with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a real danger that debt recovery programmes will be structured in ways that shift the burden onto workers and the most vulnerable members of society.

History has shown that austerity measures — wage freezes, public sector cuts, reduced labor protections — disproportionately harm workers while protecting the interests of creditors. UNICOF and the broader labor movement must be vigilant in ensuring that Ghana's economic recovery from COVID-19 is built on solidarity, not on the backs of workers.

UNICOF calls on the government and all economic actors to prioritize workers' welfare, protect jobs, maintain decent wages, and ensure the recovery builds a more equitable economy for all Ghanaians.