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Background

What is the Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) of the OAS?

• It is the main hemispheric forum for discussion and policy making on labor matters. The Conference brings together those responsible for labor policies of the Americas to formulate the priorities and strategies that guide the cooperation activities necessary to address the employment challenges in the region.
• The first IACML took place in 1963, making it the oldest sectoral meeting of the Organization of American States.

What have been the most significant results of the IACML?

• Among the most important is the creation of the Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL), after the conference held in Mexico in 2005. It is a mechanism of cooperation between the Ministries of Labor of the Americas to strengthen their human and corporate capabilities and actions.

In its 10 years of existence, the RIAL:

• Has provided 90 bilateral cooperation initiatives focused on finding tools and solutions to specific labor issues.
• Has strengthened the capacity of governments in labor administration and has made the protection of workers’ rights more effective.
• Has contributed to the implementation of policies and legislation on occupational safety, remuneration, work-life balance, rights in the workplace and telework, among others.
• Has directly benefited 1,044 public servants through training activities, field practices, exchanges with other institutions, expert assistance, and access to forums and publications.
• Has promoted interaction between governments, employers and workers to reach agreements, prevent and resolve labor disputes.
• Has trained over 900 public servants in the area of labor administration.

Who participates in the IACML?

• In addition to governments, the IACML guarantees the participation of both workers and employers, gathered through its two advisory bodies: the Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE) and the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Matters (CEATAL).

How does the IACML work?

• The IACML operates under the leadership of the troika of past, current and future presidents of the Conference, in order to ensure continuity and consistency of its work. Currently the troika is composed of the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare of El Salvador (President of the XVII IACML - 2011), the Minister of Labor of Colombia (president of the XVIII IACML - 2013) and the Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare of Mexico (President of the XIX IACML- 2015).
• To guarantee the fulfillment of the mandates of the IACML, the Technical Secretariat, under the OAS Department of Social Inclusion work together with other international organizations, especially the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

What topics are covered in the conference?

In the 2013 IACML, two working groups were formed:
• Group 1 dealt with the issue of employment as a keystone in the quest for equality and development. It was formed by the Ministers of Argentina, the United States and the Bahamas.
• Group 2 addressed the issue of institutional strengthening for the protection of workers' rights and promoting social dialogue. It was composed of the ministers of Canada, Barbados and Peru.
• The reports of the working groups are available here

Reference: S-042/15