Media Center

Press Release

INTER-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF LABOR ANALYZES THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS ON SECURITY, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL PROTECTION

The XVI Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor with the theme: “Facing the Crisis with Development, Decent Work and Social Protection” opened yesterday in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Participating at the conference’s inaugural ceremony were the Executive Secretary of Integral Development of the Organization of American States (OAS), Alfonso Quiñónez, on behalf of the OAS Secretary General; the Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security of the Republic of Argentina, Carlos Alfonso Tomada; the Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Juan Somavía; and the Minister of External Relations, International Trade and Religion of Argentina, Jorge Taiana.

At the ceremony, the OAS Executive Secretary of Integral Development warned about the possible effects that the economic crisis could have on areas such as security, employment, and social protection. In that sense, he affirmed that Latin America “is facing the danger of a sudden growth reduction and the lost of what we have been accomplishing in terms of fight of poverty and inequality.”

Likewise, he added that “we cannot deny ourselves the possibility that our region becomes part of a scenario of social tensions that would endanger our institutions’ stability”. For that reason, he continued, “it will be necessary to have national unity that goes beyond electoral processes” and that facilitates the construction of broad political and social agreements that will strengthen governability and the political viability of the measures that should be adopted to overcome the crisis and its effects.

The OAS Executive Secretary for Integral Development referred to three main issues to be covered at the conference: the strengthening of dialogue between workers and employers; the consolidation of the Inter- American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL) as a mechanism of cooperation and technical assistance for the conference; and the institutional progress made to tackle gender equity in the labor markets of the hemisphere.

With regards to the first issue, Quiñónez pointed out that the OAS is committed to guaranteeing opportunities for dialogue between workers and employers, and that this process has already been institutionalized in the context of the Summit of the Americas process and of the OAS General Assembly.

Regarding the RIAL, he underscored that through this Network, “the ministers can share experiences, analyze relevant issues, reinforce collaboration ties, and mutually enrich,” and also explained that this exchange “allows ministers to strengthen their performance and adjust practices and procedures based on other experiences.”

Finally, the high-level OAS official announced that the XVI Inter-American Conference will be the opportunity for the ‘institutionalization of the gender perspective in the Ministries of Labor of the Americas,” and warned that women are overrepresented in the informal sector of the economy, and that their salaries continue to be lower compared to men, even with their higher education levels.

Today’s agenda for the XVI Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor includes a presentation from the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and from the Ministers and Vice Ministers of other countries of the region, including the United States, Brazil, and Argentina.

The Conference will conclude on Thursday, October 8, with the adoption of the Declaration of Buenos Aires 2009: “Facing the Crisis with Development, Decent Work and Social Protection”, which will cover issues such as the role of labor ministers in confronting the economic crisis, the coordination of policies and programs to promote employment, and the protection of labor rights, among other relevant issues.

Reference: E-327/09