As many of us settle indoors to wait out this pandemic, safe in our homes with our families and a stock of necessities, we must remember those who do not have the option to stay safe.
Offices around the world have shut down, companies have tried their best to make their operations remote, and schools are carrying out distance learning programs. Yet, a huge portion of the population in every country have had to carry on with their jobs because, quite frankly, without them however little our world is moving right now, it would come to a grinding halt.
Some of the most vulnerable to an infection right now are people like grocery store clerks, warehouse workers, cleaners, delivery men and cargo transport drivers. People who generally do not earn enough to have savings to fall back on, or paid sick leave days to give them respite. There are daily global cases of these workers testing positive and their recovery is highly uncertain in a situation where doctors are having to wait long to get tested for exposure.
In developed nations like the United States, experts are estimating that a quarter of a million people may die from this pandemic in the coming months. Most companies are still silent about how they can find a solution to pay fair wages and keep themselves functional. In the United Kingdom however, the government released an incentive package to pay eighty percent of workers’ salaries who are kept on by their employers in an attempt to save jobs as restaurants and small establishments get closed for their extended lockdown.
The situation is dire for blue collar workers in developed nations, but it still does not compare to the plight of workers in the same industries in developing countries. While the middle class shudder in their homes thinking about the possible food and amenities shortages in the months to come, grocers and transport workers, cleaners and other low wage workers are living a food shortage nightmare now.
These are the people most exposed to the coronavirus and also those most likely to be left by the wayside when it comes to treatments. Isolation and social distancing is needed right now, but leaders cannot hide from their responsibilities to help out those most vulnerable. They, and all of us, must remember that they are the ones we are relying on to get our basic supplies right now. They are part of our first line of defense. We have the luxury of being indoors because they are having to do their jobs outdoors. If they come to a stop, so will we, and soon.
By Tanzia Haq
