The Economic Affairs Committee launches its inquiry into employment
and COVID-19 and invites written contributions to its
investigation. The deadline for submissions is 10 September 2020.
The Committee will examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
on the labour market and consider what urgent measures should be
taken to protect and create jobs. It will also examine how the
labour market may change as a result of the pandemic in the
longer term. The Committee intends to make recommendations to the
Government.
The Committee is seeking answers to the following questions:
- What steps should be taken to protect and create jobs over
the next two years?
- What trade-offs should be considered?
- What barriers to entering employment could be removed to
support the labour market recovery?
- Which sectors are likely to experience the most change in
supply and demand?
- To what extent should any future intervention by the
Government in the labour market be targeted sectorally and/or
regionally?
- What lessons can be learned from previous recessions and
active labour market policy interventions in the UK? What lessons
can be learned from schemes and interventions that have been
implemented in other countries?
- What steps should be taken to create a sustainable recovery
over the medium and longer term?
- How should the Government support training and skills
development?
- What positive and negative trends in employment may have been
accelerated as a result of COVID-19?
The Committee is looking to hear from as diverse a range of views
as possible—if you think someone you know would have an interest
in contributing to the inquiry, please pass this on to them.
Please read the call for evidence document above for full details
on the inquiry. The deadline for submitting written evidence is
10 September 2020.
Chair's quote
, Chair of the
Committee, comments:
"COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on the economy and
people’s livelihoods. Our Committee’s inquiry will focus on
measures that could help protect and create jobs. We will then
make our recommendations to Government in due course.
"To inform our work we want to hear from as broad a range of
people as possible. If you have a view on employment in the
context of the COVID-19 crisis, look at our call for evidence and
let us know what you think."