Latin America and the Caribbean have been hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis, which has revealed the structural weakness of the neoliberal policies applied for decades in the region. These have actively contributed to the systematic dismantling of the social, labour, and productive structures in its countries, leaving them in a state of total vulnerability in the face of the scale of the pandemic.

Placing SDG 8 on decent work and inclusive and sustainable economic growth at the heart of the policy responses brought by the governments of the region is central to the future of Latin America and to ensure that no one is left behind on the road to recovery.