Covid-19 surges will prolong South-East Asia’s job crisis, says ILO

SINGAPORE, Aug 14 (Bloomberg): Rising Covid-19 cases and a slow pace of vaccinations will likely prolong the labor-market crisis in South-East Asia and hamper the region’s recovery, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Some 9.3 million fewer people will be employed in Southeast Asia this year compared to the pre-pandemic trend, the ILO said in a policy brief on Friday (Aug 13).

The employment gap compares with the 10.6 million shortfall estimated in 2020, with the difference expected to narrow to 4.1 million next year, the group said.