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HEMISPHERE’S LABOR MINISTERS MEET IN BRAZIL

  September 22, 2003

Labor ministers from the 34 Organization of American States (OAS) member countries will meet in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, this week for the 13th Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor. Part of the Summits of the Americas process, the three-day gathering of the Western Hemisphere’s labor ministers opens on Wednesday, September 24.

OAS Secretary General César Gaviria and International Labor Organization Director General Juan Somavía are among those who will address the opening session.

The agenda includes discussion of such priority issues as current labor conditions in the hemisphere, including unemployment; the relationship between economic and labor policies; how to confront the challenges of making globalization more inclusive; and corporate social responsibility. The ministers will also consider issues pertaining to modernizing labor ministries and increasing professional training opportunities.

Canada’s Minister of Labor, Claudette Bradshaw, will update her counterpart ministers on the progress in implementing the Ottawa Plan of Action, adopted at the last ministerial meeting in October 2001.

Before concluding their conference on September 26, the labor ministers will adopt a Salvador Declaration and Plan of Action.

Reference: E-178/03