The recently published ILO report World Employment and Social Outlook 2023: The value of essential work, addresses the need to improve working conditions and invest more in food systems, in addition to health care and those sectors that contribute to increasing economic and social resilience in the face of crises, the international organization noted.

The study underscores that poor working conditions for key workers exacerbate staff turnover and labor shortages, putting the provision of basic services at risk.

Add to this the low remuneration, for example, 29 percent of these workers receive a salary of less than two thirds of the average wage per hour.

According to ILO statistics, 52 percent of all employment is carried out by these workers, so it is necessary to invest in infrastructure and human resources for a sector that provides vital services, in good and bad times.

ILO added that key workers can be found in various occupational groups that include healthcare, food systems, retail or security, which were key areas during the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

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