When we think about remote work, we usually imagine employees performing the same tasks they complete in the office at home. This means that anyone who works in a physical environment such as a warehouse, manufacturing facility, or retail store cannot work remotely.

The only type of "remote" work for industrial and retail environments is the ability to control equipment close to the user. For instance, industrial cranes are smaller than the ones used in construction so they can fit in a factory. As a result, there is no space for a cabin so it needs to be controlled using a remote. This type of technology is critical for risky activities such as welding or working with hazardous materials. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that regular positions in warehouses or retail environments can also be dangerous:

A meatpacking company in Colorado closed after dozens of people were infected with COVID-19 and a few employees died.
It is estimated that at least 30 Amazon distribution centers had outbreaks of COVID-19. There is no clear information about how many employees have been infected with the virus.
Five employees of the manufacturing company Georgia Pacific tested positive for COVID-19.
One may argue that COVID-19 is an exceptional situation that will not last, but other similar pandemics may happen in the future. The history of epidemics shows that while fewer people died, there were more pandemics in the past two centuries than in any others.

While we don't fully understand what caused recent pandemics, we do know that globalization allowed contagious diseases to spread across the world. Considering that 23% of the global workforce works in the industry sector (mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, and public utilities), protecting these employees will benefit them, their families, and ultimately the global economy.