Human resource challenges during the coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery period

 

On 24 June 2020, SIGMA organised a virtual meeting with ENP South administrations to address HR challenges in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19). This followed the success of the meeting on the reopening of offices held on 10 June 2020. Over 60 participants from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority^[1] and Tunisia, as well as from Delegations of the European Union in the region, OECD MENA and SIGMA, took part in the online discussion.

Take a look at the agenda: English I French I Arabic

Introductory remarks from the Head of the SIGMA Programme were followed by a presentation (in Arabic) to introduce the three topics related to the return to on-site work that ENP South administrations have experienced since the confinement was lifted: increased workload; health risks in the workplace and employee well-being.

The SIGMA presentation, focusing on potential solutions to these challenges, was based on a draft discussion paper (in French and in Arabic) prepared for the seminar and shared with the participants in advance.

The event provided an opportunity to exchange on how to respond to these situations. The potential measures discussed included overtime, flexible working, teleworking, workplace arrangements, training, communication, mobility, additional staff, work processes, well-being and salary.

More details on each of these points are available in the event summary also available in French and Arabic.

All meeting documents can be browsed on Slideshare.

Also take a look at the meeting documents from the third seminar of 8 July 20120.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^[1] Footnote by the European External Action Service and the European Commission: This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the European Union Member States on this issue.