Coronavirus (covid19) and its impact on human resources

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The outbreak of the coronavirus (also known as COVID19) undoubtedly swept the world in just a few months. The World Health Organization’s March 11, 2020 declaration that Covid 19 has reached the level of a pandemic encourages countries around the world to take urgent and proactive action to stop the spread of the virus. I have been forced to do so.

With more than 1.2 million confirmed cases and over 65k deaths worldwide, major effects of the virus has been witnessed in countries including China, USA, Italy, Germany, Spain etc. Till today the virus spread has affected more than one hundred countries across the globe. The Coronavirus had evolved as a severe global threat due to its ability to spread among individuals really fast and due to the unavailability of specific vaccinations or medications dedicated to its cure. At a time when developed countries like china and italy have encountered thousands of deaths and are facing tremendous difficulties in fighting against the viru the condition in a backward and still developing country like Nepal would be unimaginable if a severe outbreak were to be faced here.

The preventive measure considered most effective and useful that has been adopted worldwide in minimizing the further spread of the virus is the practice of social distancing and isolation. Social distancing simples is the practice of staying home, avoiding crowds and refraining from touching one another. Because the spread of the virus is accelerated from physical contact between the infected and the healthy and because most infected ones may not show symptoms but be active carriers for the pathogen this prevention measure is accepted as the most significant one presently.

In efforts for practicing social distancing, countries all over the world and the Government of Nepal itself has decided to shut down schools, offices, restaurants and all such institutes which require interaction among a number of individuals until further notice. Travelling short and long distances has also been banned. All international and domestic flights have been stopped to not entertain foreigners from other nations. Everyone is expected to stay at home as much as possible. As offices and various organizations remain close working from home is enforced. Such a sudden and uncertain change in the lifestyle of people definitely has major impact in the overall economy of the country. A major percentage of the country’s’ economy depends on the working human manpower in the various sectors of the nation. Since the prevention of the widespread of this virus depends on the practice of social distancing which includes minimum physical human interaction the majority of manpower excluding health professionals are compelled to stay home. The human resources of the nation as a result is destined to face a number of problems.

A large percentage of the human workforce of the nation fly abroad for work as Nepal lacked sufficient job opportunities for majority of the population. Most Nepalese that seek to work in the field abroad especially in gulf countries belong to financially backward families. With this globally emerging threat workers are being sent home. People dependent on everyday working and earning to live are having a hard time due to this pandemic.

Part of the country’s economy is generated from remittances obtained through employment abroad. As working-class Nepalese return home and are not allowed to work, the remittances collected through the employment of foreigners are significantly reduced.

Another major drawback of this pandemic is seen by multinationals outsourcing some of their projects to countries like Nepal. Companies are lagging behind in their work, so they can’t do jobs that require frequent and effective interaction between people.