LOS EXPERIMENTOS EDUCATIVOS FALLIDOS DEL BANCO MUNDIAL EN PAÍSES CENTROAMERICANOS
Conclusions TRENDS The social, labor and educational situation have been strongly affected during the year 2020 by the pandemic caused by the expansion of coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout the region. It is an impact that, in turn, has affected societies that already suffered from deep structural inequalities and preexisting critical situations in the economic, political and social fields, as well as being adversely affected by the digital divide, differentiated access to technological devices and connectivity. Based on the information obtained for the present study, strong trends have been observed in the context of pandemic: • The recession was deep and occurred in all countries regardless of the severity of the health measures taken. A significant number of countries made direct state contributions to prevent the breakdown of labor relations. These contributions were based on subsidies on the wage bill and/or on the extension of unemployment insurance to cover situations of suspensions or reductions of working hours. • Several governments in the region took measures to support businesses and preserve jobs in addition to compensating for income losses for households whose members suffered total or partial reductions in income. • Undoubtedly, the main impact has been the collapse in the level of employment and the loss of real wages. There was a very strong reduction in employment in the region associated with, but even more intense than, the decline in economic activity. • Trade unions have voiced concern about attacks that may occur due to the implementation of unprotected forms of recruitment, the further deterioration of working conditions and the flexibilization of work schedules and tasks. The labor reform agenda continues to be a threat. For countries in which regressive legal reforms have already taken place, the context of the pandemic has made it easy to 57
