TUAC Webinar: The COVID-19 crisis in the Asia Pacific region – Economic perspectives

Monday 19 October – 08.00 – 09.30 am CEST

Registration via ZOOM form.

SPEAKERS

Ben WESTMORE, Senior Economist, Australia desk, OECD Economic Department

Douglas SUTHERLAND, Senior Economist, Japan desk, OECD Economic Department

Kei OGURO, Economist, Japan Desk, OECD Economic Department

Christophe ANDRE, Senior Economist, Korea desk, OECD Economic Department

COVID-19 put under extreme test the global economy. As many economies in Europe and the Americas are already coping with the second wave of the pandemic, Asian and Pacific countries such as Australia, Japan, Korea and New Zealand seem to be coping better.

Nonetheless and according to the latest OECD Interim Economic Report, these four economies will register a recession at the end of 2020, from -1% of GDP in Korea to -5.8% in Japan. With a cure and vaccine still far away, the risk of a prolonged recession with multiple downturns is very concrete.

What is the forecast for the coming months and how should governments prepare to respond to the challenge? What are trade unions’ demands and how can they support employment throughout the current crisis?

This TUAC webinar will bring together OECD experts and trade union representatives from four countries in the Asia Pacific regions to discuss current challenges related to the COVID-19 crisis.

Followed by Q&A.

Moderated by Pierre HABBARD, General Secretary, TUAC.