The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense disruption worldwide through its devastating impact on public health, employment and livelihoods. Governments, workers and employers around the world took immediate action to address the crisis, preserve jobs and protect incomes, although these measures varied in scale and generosity. Although such measures were crucial in mitigating the crisis, all countries experienced a sharp deterioration in employment and national income, which exacerbated existing inequalities and risked long-term "scarring" effects on workers and enterprises. Following these events was the multilateral political response to intervene to address social fragility and inequality.