Supporting SMEs during COVID-19

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and their workers are hard-hit by the present COVID-19 outbreak and related economic downturn. In response to the crisis, Governments, Employers’ and Workers’ organizations, enterprises, and other stakeholders are implementing strategies to minimize the negative impacts, supporting business operations and protecting workers' rights, heading towards resilience. This self-guided on-line training programmes looks at the different policy options Governments have at their disposal to help MSMEs, including cooperatives, maintain their operations and workforce. It looks at the role of employers’ organizations and it presents good practices from enterprises themselves, with emphasis on MSMEs. This course covers effective business continuity strategies through different angles, with a specific focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, including past experience of the ILO and its partners to support business operations and decent work during and after other types of crisis. By the end of the course, participants have: • Learned what Governments, in dialogue and cooperation with Employers’ and Workers’ Organizations, can do to preserve businesses and decent work • Listened to qualified opinions from relevant policy analysts based on research and impact analysis • Acquired knowledge from peers having experienced similar situations in the past • Acquired know-how to support the needs of employers’ and workers’ organizations in emergency situations • Identified practical tools that MSMEs can implement to overcome these challenges