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FINAL
REPORT OF THE XIII INTER-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF LABOUR The Opening Session was held on September 24, 2003 at 19:00. Delegates were shown a promotional video on the host city of Salvador, Bahia. The Honourable Jaques Wagner, Minister of Labour and Employment of Brazil and Chair pro tempore of the XIII IACML made welcome remarks on behalf of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, who was unable to attend the Conference. The President's remarks highlighted labour matters as a key focus of human dignity and emphasized that future trade negotiations should have a sense of social and labour policies to ensure the protection of workers. Speaking next, the Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour of Canada underscored the importance of sharing the benefits of free trade and economic growth among all levels of society through efficient and fair labour markets. Additionally, she noted that in an integrating world of constant change, countries of the Americas must work together to build instruments of coordination and cooperation, to share best practices, and to learn from each other. By doing so, Minister Bradshaw stated that the Hemisphere could be a model for the world, ensuring that opportunity is shared among all levels, especially workers. Dr. Juan Somavia, Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) addressed the delegates on the topics of unemployment - which he referred to as the most flagrant manifestation of social exclusion - and poverty as the greatest challenges of our time. He noted that poverty reduction strategies could not be successfully pursued without job creation, especially growth in decent work. As well, he encouraged the continued use of social dialogue as a means to stabilize societies, legitimize policies, and build consensus among employers, workers, and governments. Finally, he pointed out the increasing importance of integrating social and economic policies at all levels, from local to international. Dr. Cesar Gaviria, Secretary General of the Organization of American States applauded the work of the Conference in advancing and uniting economic policy with social progress in the face of numerous challenges to the Americas. He stated that protecting the fundamental rights of workers and promoting basic labour standards for decent work reinforces democracy and the spirit of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, as well as the work of the ILO. Dr. Gaviria emphasized that integration in the Hemisphere is generating great changes in our nations and it is the responsibility of all to ensure that these changes translate into higher standards of living for workers and increased growth. Following the collaborative and participatory example of Ministers of Labour in the IACML process, he noted that integration could proceed as a balanced and just process that benefits all people. The Honourable Paulo Soto, Governor of the State of Bahia welcomed the delegates to Bahia and invited them to enjoy the city of Salvador. As well, he shared some of the latest statistics on economic development and growth in Bahia with the Conference. The Honourable Jaques Wagner, Minister of Labour and Employment of Brazil officially opened the Conference and encouraged delegates to engage fully in the plenary sessions on labour and economic challenges and policies and on the important topic of corporate social responsibility. Furthermore, he addressed the importance of the Declaration and Plan of Action as a tool to strengthen collaboration and develop solutions to our common challenges, especially in light of the upcoming Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement and recent setbacks at the World Trade Organization meeting in Cancun. He noted that overcoming unemployment and social exclusion through decent work and integral development would be key in meeting the challenge of poverty in the Hemisphere.
The First Plenary Session was held on September 25, 2003 at 09:00. The Honourable Jaques Wagner, Minister of Labour and Employment of Brazil opened the session to delegates. The Honourable Claudette Bradshaw, Minister of Labour of Canada and Chair pro tempore of the XII IACML reviewed the progress made under the XII Conference. She noted the expansion of the Conference to include strong participation from COSATE and CEATAL, the workers and employers groups respectively, as well as from academics, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. Additionally, she highlighted the important work undertaken by the two Working Groups, whose reports have provided a roadmap for the future of the Conference. Moreover, Minister Bradshaw highlighted the need to build on and deepen the work of the Conference, the ILO, and the OAS by launching a feasibility study on an Inter-American Mechanism for Professional Labour Administration. The Minister also called for the joint Declaration of COSATE and CEATAL to be appended to the Declaration of Salvador. Dr. Sofialeticia Morales, Director of the Unit for Social Development and Education of the OAS and the Technical Secretary of the IACML presented delegates with an overview of the Permanent Portfolio of Consolidated Programs in Labour. This Portfolio was distributed to delegates as an interactive CD-ROM showcasing consolidated programs from the Member States on the topics of Occupational Health and Safety, Labour Administration, Labour Skills Training and Certification, and Gender Equity. As well, she gave delegates a first look at an upcoming virtual course on Evaluation and Certification of Labour Competencies that will be offered by the OAS Education Portal of the Americas in 2004. Finally, Dr. Morales presented a proposal for strengthening the implementation of the Declaration and Plan of Action of Salvador by leveraging approximately $200,000 USD of OAS funds in coordination with the Member States, advisory bodies, and international organizations. Dr. Daniel Funes de Rioja, President of CEATAL emphasized the importance of working towards hemispheric integration that is based on common goals and aspirations and he urged delegates to take action now to meet these challenges before the situation in the Americas worsens. Also speaking on behalf of CEATAL, Ms. Albis Muñoz, President of FEDECAMARAS of Venezuela and Mr. Marcel Meyer, President of the Suriname Trade and Industry Association raised serious concerns regarding the social and labour dimensions of their respective regions. They highlighted the need for more collaboration with the public sector in overcoming the challenges of globalization, especially emphasizing partnerships among governments, workers and employers. Also they urged delegates to focus on the development of human capital as a key means for workers and businesses to stay competitive in the face of greater integration. Mr. Agustín Muñoz, Regional Director of the ILO for the Americas reported that through the work of the ILO in the Hemisphere and at the global level many of the mandates of the XII IACML have been met. Important work has been undertaken in strengthening labour administration, promoting tripartite dialogue, combating child labour, improving labour legislation and integrating gender perspectives into labour policy. He noted that these advances have not only reinforced the labour dimension in the countries but have improved the ability of the ILO to work more effectively as partners with the countries. Furthermore, Mr. Muñoz encouraged collaboration among the various actors to ensure that the Plan of Action of Salvador is realized. Dr. Luz Maritza Tennassee, Chief of Risk Assessment and Management of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) presented delegates with an overview of workers health and safety issues and their inter-relationship with economic development, democracy, equity, and human rights. She highlighted interesting quantitative research on the positive results of investment in health and safety and she explained the PAHO Regional Plan on Workers Health. Finally, she shared the results of numerous partnership initiatives among PAHO and other international organizations and civil society groups that are working to advance workers health in the Americas. Mr. Hassan Yussuff, out-going President of COSATE and Secretary-Treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress applauded the Government of Canada as Chair pro tempore for its commitment to involving COSATE and CEATAL in the proceedings of the XII Conference. He reiterated the commitment of the two advisory bodies to the IACML process and expressed his thanks to the delegates for including the joint COSATE-CEATAL Declaration in the Declaration of Salvador. In conclusion, he urged the Ministers of Labour to continue to pursue tripartite interaction to enhance the dialogue and activities of the IACML. The First Plenary Session was declared closed by the Chair.
The Second Plenary Session was held on September 25, 2003 at 10:30. The Honourable Jaques Wagner, Minister of Labour and Employment of Brazil opened the session to delegates. Mr. Jürgen Weller, Economic Issues Officer for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) presented an overview of current labour market tendencies in the Region, as well he noted some of the specific challenges being faced, and possible areas of policy intervention. Labour market indicators shared by Mr. Weller outlined growing demand for skilled workers, greater macroeconomic volatility, less social protection, increasing informality, and rising youth unemployment. He highlighted possible policy solutions including greater collaboration between Ministers of Labour and Finance, balanced regulation of markets, continual training and education, promotion of micro-enterprises, and development of unemployment insurance systems. Each of the five sub-regions of the Hemisphere was represented through sub-regional presentations on the current labour challenges. A summary of each follows: The Honourable Carlos Abascal Carranza, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Mexico presented on behalf of the NAFTA region. He emphasized the need to find a fair and equitable means for integration, recognizing concerns about competitiveness, the need to create jobs for all, increase standards of living, and promote greater investment. The Minister also noted that multilateral agreements and increased cooperation move everyone forward towards common goals and solutions. He stated that education, entrepreneurship, skill certification, labour laws, regulations, and social security systems must be pursued simultaneously to ensure success. In closing, the Minister affirmed that the success of NAFTA is cooperation, which can be seen in the lack of use of its dispute resolution mechanisms. Permanent Secretary Neville Edwards of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Barbados presented on behalf of the CARICOM region. He stated that good labour conditions require a commitment to the Conventions of the ILO and in the CARICOM region Member States have pursued this course. As well, he emphasized that the goal of social justice requires tripartite consultation and in the Caribbean a number of institutions have emerged to collaborate and coordinate action throughout the region, he cited the Caribbean Labour Congress as one such institution. In closing, he urged the ILO and OAS to strengthen their working capacity to meet the challenges faced by the Americas. The Honourable Germán Edgardo Leitzelar, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Honduras spoke on behalf of the Central American region. He focused on the topic of labour welfare and noted the impact of recent trade agreements with Canada and the United States on workers in the region. Specifically, he emphasized the need for donor nations to consider expansion of labour projects in Central America. The region, he noted, is implementing various initiatives to strengthen key areas such as modernization of labour administration, occupational health and safety, gender equity, job creation, and small business development, while helping to increase the level of participation of smaller countries in the labour discourse. The Honourable Santiago Pérez del Castillo, Minister of Labour of Uruguay spoke on behalf of the MERCOSUR region. He addressed the importance of generating more high quality jobs and building modern labour ministries to advance the agenda of decent work. The Minister noted that governments must take a pro-active approach to the labour market, as examples he cited apprenticeships to promote youth employment, subsidized private sector employment for 'economic engine' industries like construction, and entrepreneurship training to promote self-employment. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of education and skills training to prepare workers for the new economy and to ensure social inclusion. In conclusion, the Minister encouraged trade union freedom as a key to political dialogue and an important component of structural reform and modernization efforts. The Honourable Martha Vallejo Luzuriaga, Minister of Labour and Human Resources of Ecuador presented on behalf of the Andean region. She urged delegates to consider labour as a key element of integration and to use multilateral mechanisms, sub-regional projects, and informative studies to understand and meet the challenges of the current situation. The Minister noted that labour must be considered within a wider framework in order to meet the challenges of our most pressing social problems. She stated that Ministers of Labour must teach people, especially the young, to generate wealth, as governments cannot purse growth strategies by simply distributing poverty. Finally, she emphasized the need for cooperation among governments and among international organizations to ensure technical assistance is maximized. The Second Plenary Session was declared closed by the Chair.
Dr. Paulo Paiva, Vice-President for Planning and Administration of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) presented on the topic of economic and labour polices, focusing on 'How to Confront the Challenges of an Inclusive Globalization'. He showcased a number of labour market indicators for Latin America, which cited population growth outpacing job growth, excessive inefficiency, lack of decent work, low wages, and high turnover, among others. These factors combined with volatile macroeconomic conditions require a balanced approach to labour market policy that includes institutional development and setting in place of conditions for a stabilized economic environment. In conclusion, Dr. Paiva highlighted the importance of providing minimum social safety nets that protect workers within the limits of the economy and the demands of the population. Dr. Virgilio Levaggi, Regional Specialist in Social and Economic Integration and Decent Work of the International Labour Organization (ILO) spoke on the topic of integration policies and the promotion of development. He observed that although democracy and public expectations have been growing in the Americas development remains elusive because of a lack of decent work. The ramifications of this trend, he noted, are a growing disillusion with democracy, increasing social inequality, and lack of hope concerning growth. He stated that the challenge of convergence of these and other factors is to utilize our divergent knowledge to meet common goals and better articulate the economic and social agenda as we become more integrated. Dr. Levaggi urged delegates to consider placing people and thus labour policy at the center of a more holistic decision-making process. Dr. Irene Klinger, Executive Secretary of the Summit of the Americas Secretariat at the Organization of American States (OAS) presented an update on the Summit of the Americas process. She outlined the growth of the Summit process since its inception in 1994 with four major themes, to 2001 with eighteen major themes. Dr. Klinger outlined accomplishments under these themes and noted specifically the importance of the IACML in advancing the Summits labour and employment mandates. Finally, she briefed delegates on the upcoming Special Summit of the Americas to be held in January 2004 on the topic of expanding and strengthening social development, governance and economic opportunity. Dr. Renato Baumann, Director of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean Office in Brazil presented on behalf of the United Nations on the topic of economic policy and employment. He stated that achieving growth with equity in the Hemisphere would depend on how governments choose to deal with education, employment, wealth distribution and demographic growth. Within a new global context, Mr. Baumann noted that a range of policies that provide worker protections, minimum standards, and market supports must be utilized to assist the labour market and thus workers. During the ensuing Ministerial Dialogue for this plenary session delegates from the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic made comments. Delegates highlighted the importance of dealing with labour and economic policies through a multi-faceted approach that ensures growth with equity. They also emphasized the need to work more collaboratively with their fellow Ministers of Trade and Finance to deepen and strengthen their dialogue and actions. As well, they encouraged the sharing of the Declaration and Plan of Action of Salvador with the upcoming Special Summit of the Americas. Finally, they highlighted the importance of placing human beings and workers rights at the center of integration and reform efforts to ensure a better Americas for all citizens. The Third Plenary Session was declared closed by the Chair.
The Fourth Plenary Session was held on September 25, 2003 at 16:15. The Honourable Jaques Wagner, Minister of Labour and Employment of Brazil opened the session to delegates. By way of introduction, Mr. Ronald Scheman, Director General of the Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Develop of the OAS presented on the topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR). He highlighted the three main goals or reasons for companies to pursue CSR, these include: (1) complying with the law, especially labour law; (2) supporting workers; and (3) enhancing communities by reinforcing social capital. A number of initiatives at the OAS, he noted, are currently supporting CSR by working with the private sector and ministries, gathering best practices, and building partnerships. Specifically, Mr. Scheman made reference to work being done on occupational health and safety as an element of CSR that is good for democracy, workers, and markets. Mr. Erwin Hahn, Executive
Director of EMPRESA, an alliance of businesses and organizations committed
to CSR, made opening remarks for a CSR panel discussion. He emphasized
the important role of CSR in the new economy as the private sector takes
on greater social responsibilities in the face of a financially strained
public sector. With businesses accounting for 52 of the top 100 greatest
economies in the world, he noted that CSR has become an important trend
that is changing relationships among the main actors. Mr. Hahn highlighted
a number of indicators showing growing support for social conduct by companies
and consumers and he cited examples of CSR that show companies protecting
the environment, supporting workers, and helping communities. Mr. Antônio Pedro Gordilho, Director of Human Resources and General Services of Coelba presented his companies vision of CSR as a means for community outreach and as a management tool. For example, Coelba an electricity company, teaches young people about electrical safety and environmental sustainability while providing educational opportunities to fight illiteracy and build skills for future workers. In terms of management, Mr. Gordilho noted that company outsourcing is done with an occupational health and safety plan that ensures safe work environments for workers and increases efficiency and reduces costs through fewer accidents. He emphasized that companies must realize that they cannot exist in failed societies and that they have a role to play in our collective well-being and success. Mr. Reinaldo Rique, President of the Instituto Newton Rique, an organization focused on social transformation through CSR shared his experience in implementing a CSR strategy for shopping centers. These shopping centers were developed as community spaces, centrally located for greater ease of access, and greater synergy with customers needs. As an integrated part of the community the malls offered numerous programs from education in the arts to human rights training, thus providing benefits for customers and shopkeepers through the shopping center's CSR strategy. Mr. Ericson Crivelli, in-coming President of COSATE shared the perspective of workers on CSR. He highlighted the often-limited advantages of globalization for workers and noted that CSR acts as a means for employers to share these advantages with their workers. Additionally, he urged delegates to consider legal requirements for companies to provide benefits to workers to protect their fundamental rights. Also, Mr. Benjamin Davis, Regional Program Director of the Solidarity Center of the AFL-CIO stated that the growing importance of CSR should encourage agreements between companies and workers and it should be a topic pursued in future Conference deliberations. Speaking last, Mr. Brian Burkett, Representative of CEATAL and the Canadian Employers Council applauded the voluntary efforts of employers to engage in CSR. He emphasized the importance of keeping CSR voluntary and based on the creative initiatives of companies to give back to their communities, help the environment, promote good corporate governance, among others. Mr. Burkett shared five indicators of success in CSR: (1) better financial results through reduced operating costs; (2) better human resource management; (3) enhanced brand image; (4) increased sales and customer loyalty; and (5) increased ability to keep and recruit employees. In closing, he noted that businesses increasingly recognize the importance and benefits of CSR as they integrate it as a key component of their corporate culture. The Fourth Plenary Session was declared closed by the Chair.
The Closing Session was held on September 26, 2003 at 09:00. The Honourable Jaques Wagner, Minister of Labour and Employment of Brazil opened the session to delegates. The first order of business of the Closing Session was the election of the Chair pro tempore and new member of the IACML Troika. Honduras, Argentina, Bolivia, and Costa Rica expressed support for the Honourable Carlos Abascal Carranza, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Mexico to assume the Chairmanship of the XIV IACML. Minister Abascal expressed his thanks to delegates for the nomination and to Ministers Bradshaw and Wagner for their exemplary work. He noted that the Conference is an unparalleled opportunity for more active collaboration among Ministers of Labour and for strengthened social dialogue among all delegates. As well, he urged delegates to consider human beings as the center of economic activity and to engage in a hemispheric dialogue based on shared values concerning decent work. Finally, he stated that nations must be able to decide on their own labour standards but on the basis of commonly accepted standards for decent work. Minister Wagner as Chair pro tempore of the XIII IACML called for the adoption of the Declaration and Plan of Action of Salvador and the OAS Program Proposal to Support the Declaration and Plan of Action of Salvador by Ministers. Dr. Sofialeticia Morales, Director of the Unit for Social Development and Education of the OAS and Technical Secretary of the IACML made a brief presentation to provide Ministers with a final synopsis of the OAS Program Proposal to Support the Declaration and Plan of Action of Salvador. Seeing no questions or concerns expressed by delegates the Chair approved the OAS Proposal in its entirety. This proposal is included as appendix I. A number of delegations suggested changes to the Declaration and Plan of Action of Salvador prior to their final approval of the documents. These changes were debated and then incorporated into the final Declaration and Plan of Action, which was unanimously adopted by the XIII IACML. The Declaration and Plan of Action are attached hereto as appendix I. A final review of the Declaration and Plan of Action was to be conducted by the Style Committee at a later date. Minister Wagner noted that Argentina and the United States had agreed to act as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of Working Group 1, while El Salvador and Canada would act as Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of Working Group 2. In closing, Minister Wagner reiterated the importance of greater integration between economic and labour policies throughout the Hemisphere, with the goal of creating just and prosperous societies. He acknowledged that development up to this point has often been uneven and has excluded many people. Therefore, he encouraged the Ministers of Labour to commit to constructing an agenda with concrete initiatives to solve the problems of poverty and a lack of decent work in the Americas. Seeing no other business
before the Conference the Chair declared the XIII IACML |