London: The United Nations’ International Labour Organization has warned that job market recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic looks set to slow in 2022.

In its 2022 World Employment and Social Outlook trends report, published Monday, the ILO forecast that the number of hours worked globally in 2022 would be 1.8% lower than in the fourth quarter of 2019, just before the onset of the pandemic.

The ILO forecast that there would be an even bigger deficit in working hours in 2022 than it previously estimated. It projected that the fall in global working hours this year would now be the equivalent of losing 52 million full-time jobs, nearly double the 26 million it previously forecast in May 2021.

Guy Ryder, ILO director-general, said in a press briefing ahead of the release of the report on Monday that this “downside readjustment is quite considerable.”

Ryder said that there were a number of reasons behind the expected slowdown in the labor market recovery, including the spread of new Covid variants, such as delta and omicron.

The ILO expected the labor market recovery to remain weak through 2023.

Ryder said that the far-reaching changes to economic and social behavior brought on by the Covid crisis had reduced the demand for, and the supply of, labor. He said that the ILO expected this trend to continue for “as long as the pandemic itself remains uncontrolled.”

The ILO estimated that global unemployment is expected to reach 207 million in 2022, versus 186 million reported in 2019.

Ryder said that to be “sustainable this recovery must be based on the principles of decent work, employment creation, labor rights, social protection and social dialogue.”

He referred to the guidance that was offered in the ILO’s call-to-action, that was adopted by its 187 member states in June 2021. For example, the ILO suggested that states should provide incentives to employers to retain workers, such as shorter working weeks.  

SOURCE: CNBC

Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday has confirmed 10 positive cases of COVID-19 among its staff members.

According to an official statement released by the board in this regard, five members of the PCB staff, while five ground employees have tested positive for the virus.

The infected members have been isolated after their tests came positive, the board said in the statement, adding that the tests were conducted last week.

It is pertinent to mention here that the cricket board has already administered the booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine to its staff.

The PCB has said that all coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be followed and all meetings will be virtual, while the staff will strictly abide by the protocols.

Islamabad: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Farrukh Habib Monday said that the article by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the establishment of State of Madina was the fundamental for every Muslim to follow.

In a tweet, he said these rules were setup for all times, for the betterment of an individual, a society and a nation.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed upon continuous struggle to embody as a nation and state the principles of Riyasat-i-Madina as laid down by the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).

On his official twitter handle, the Premier posted his article published in English daily, the Express Tribune, titled “Spirit of Riyasat-i-Madina: transforming Pakistan”.

“Explaining guiding principles of Riyasat-i-Madina as laid down by our Prophet PBUH creating the foundation of the greatest civilisation of all times. In Pak, to realize our potential today we have to struggle to embody these principles as a nation & state,” the caption read.

According to Imran Khan’s views expressed in his piece of writing the core of every civilization was its spiritual principles; when they died, the civilization died.

“In Islamic civilization, the manifestation of our spiritual principles happened in the Prophet’s (SAW) Madina. Besides many other important principles, there were five very important guiding principles upon which the state of Madina was built. These principles are unity, justice and rule of law leading to meritocracy, strong moral and ethical foundation, inclusion of all humans in progress and prosperity, and finally, the quest for knowledge,” he added.

The prime minister said to help revive the spirit of the covenant of Madina, National Rahmatul Lil ‘Alamin Authority (NRA) has been formed.

Highlighting the ethical and moral transformation of the people as per principles of Riyasat-i-Madina, the Prime Minister said NRA will endeavor to engage in doing good and forbidding evil by teaching seerat-al-nabi (PBUH) to our youth in schools and universities in the hope to raise the level the ethics and morals in our society.

Regarding Islam's principle of quest for knowledge, THE Prime Minister said that all sources that impact human behavior should disseminate knowledge which produces self-control, self-discipline, patience, forbearance, tolerance and a spirit of service and volunteerism.

Talking about the steps taken for the welfare of the people, Khan stated that his government allocated billions of rupees under Ehsaas Program to provide relief to the common masses. 

Imran Khan reiterated to establish the rule of law, which is the most urgent of all challenges facing Pakistan.