Some key messages from Corona pandemic for WSM and the members of the Asia Network on the Right to Social Protection

1. With the pandemic, our world faces an unprecedented situation in which human life is in danger. It affects each and every one of us and imposes on us an unprecedented task, both physically and morally, professionally and personally; the crisis is not only health-related, it will have and is already having many consequences, not only on our daily lives and health, but also on the world of work and the socio-economic fabric of our various regions.
2. The current situation can only strengthen our motivation to work together to defend the right to social protection for all. In countries that do not have a strong health system or a comprehensive social protection policy, the solidarity mechanisms deployed by our organizations will be the only way to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of such a crisis.
3. As organizations of women, youth, health care, domestic and other kinds of workers, the members of the ANRSP are on the frontline working with and for those who are and will continue to be the most affected by this disaster. 
4. Many workers in Asia and in the informal sector are faced with the impossible choice of staying home and losing their jobs or income or go out and risk exposure to the virus.
5. Staying at home can be a luxury, but also staying in your country or state can be difficult: the lock-downs and closing of borders caused many problems for migrant workers: internal: like in India, where there were mass exodus of workers who didn’t want to get stuck and many deplored the lack of dignified treatment of migrant workers; or international, like Nepali migrant workers stuck in working camps in Qatar, without flights, income (so no remittances), or even legal possibility to re-enter Nepal.

It is hence essential to continue our advocacy work for universal social protection and to call on governments to back political decisions with sufficient resources for strong and accessible social protection for all. This crisis reminds us that social protection, as a form of organized and institutionalized solidarity, is the best guarantee for all, including the most vulnerable, to absorb this kind of shock.