nccr – on the move 75d ago

Who counts as an “essential worker,” and what does that label mean in practice? Revisiting the Covid-19 pandemic, this episode explores how categories such as “essential” and “key worker” shaped recognition, hierarchy, and working conditions during a time of crisis. It also asks why these questions still matter for labour rights, migration, and the future of work after the pandemic. Guests: Eloise Thompson, doctoral researcher, nccr – on the move ⁠https://nccr-onthemove.ch/people/thompson/ Hilmi Gashi, Head of Interest Groups at the Unia trade union, Head of Migration ⁠https://hilmigashi.ch/ Host and editorial production: Julia Litzkow, Knowledge Transfer Officer, nccr – on the move ⁠https://nccr-onthemove.ch/people/litzkow/ Audio production: RebelMango ⁠https://rebelmango.com/ Recording date: 18. December 2025 Learn more: nccr – on the move research project ⁠https://nccr-onthemove.ch/projects/towards-a-novel-mobility-regime-the-legacies-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-regarding-the-governance-of-human-movement/ Unia Online Magazine ⁠https://horizonte.unia.ch/ Unia Interest Group Migration ⁠https://unia.ch/de/ueber-uns/interessengruppe-migration Unia Article (in German): Ungenügender Corona-Schutz in Logistik und Transport ⁠https://unia.ch/de/aktuell/artikel/a/16848 Unia Article (in German): Coronavirus: Technischer Stopp auf Baustellen nötig! https://unia.ch/de/aktuell/artikel/a/16747 Unia Article (in German): Migrationskonferenz: Keine Doppelbestrafung von Menschen ohne Schweizer Pass! ⁠https://unia.ch/de/aktuell/artikel/a/17322 With special thanks to: All participants whose time, experience, and expertise shaped this research. Video chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Key Workers Spotlight 01:30 Meet the Experts: Eloise Thompson and Hilmi Gashi 03:28 Research Project: Legacies of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Governance of Movement 05:45 The experience of the Unia trade union during COVID 07:48 Frontline Realities 12:26 Frontline Lessons 18:52 Legacies and What Next Audio credits (intro clip): UN Secretary-General António Guterres – World Health Day 2020 ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4wBDYIg1TM⁠