Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender. Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) has embarked on a rapid study to assess the impacts of COVID-19 on labour, employment and productivity in both formal and informal sectors. According to Mr. Paul Corti Lakuma of EPRC, the study identify key sectors of the economy that require support to expand and mitigate negative impact of COVID-19 on labour, employment and productivity. Finally, it will assess the response, coping mechanisms and safety nets used by firms and workers in light of COVID 19 pandemic.
Lakuma says “one issue we have recognized is that women businesses have different issues from the male ones because apart from women doing business, they are also mothers at home, have to do care work – their businesses were affected by covid-19 differently.
“We recognize that during lockdown gender roles changed with a lot of men at home, women became bread winner. This means they depleted some of the resources they had for their businesses. The EPRC team with experts from Makerere’s School of Gender and Women studies will undertake a panel survey of household-based enterprises because almost 60% of enterprises are micro enterprises/ household base and employ less than five people”
The research will focus on manufacturing, hospitality and education because they have been the most hard-hit by covid-19. Lakuma maintains that the manufacturing sector has suffered due to low demand for the products. Curtailment of transportation during lockdown, the sector has had trouble. We want to examine this sector too. The tourism sector has been impacted because the borders are closed, the airports are shut. This left a lot of hospitality sector impacted.
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