Home » About the OAS » Our Structure » General Secretariat » Secretariats » SEDI » DHDEE » Labor and Employment

Back to DHDEE

Employment

• Labor and Employment

  Mandates
   

• Political Processes

  IACML

  Working Groups
   

• Workers and Employers

  COSATE

  CEATAL
   

• Cooperation Networks

  Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL)

Meetings of Ministers of Labor

The Inter-American Conference of the Ministries of Labor (IACML) is the oldest sectoral conference of the Organization of American States (OAS). In fact, since 1963 the Ministries of Labor of the hemisphere gather periodically in this Conference, which is considered as the main forum in the Hemisphere for discussion and decision-making regarding policy priorities and actions on labor issues.

The IACML guarantees the participation of workers and employers through its two advisory bodies: the Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE) and the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Matters (CEATAL).

The IACML has created two Working Groups to deepen the analysis of the Conference's priority themes, to spread information and pertinent studies, and to follow up hemispheric initiatives.

The most recent meeting, the XXI IACML, took place virtually in September, 2021, "Building on our Achievements and Advancing Toward Social Justice, Decent Work and Sustainable Development in the Americas". The current Chair of the IACML is the Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Security of Argentina.

The IACML works under the leadership of the troika, conformed by the past, present and future Chairs of the Conference, with the aim to ensure continuity and coherence in its activities. The troika is currently composed by the following authorities:

• Minister of Labour of Barbados (Past, Chair of the XX IACML 2017)
• Minister of Labour and Social Security of Argentina (Current, Chair of the XXI IACML 2021)
• Minister of Labor of Colombia (Future, Chair of the XXII IACML, 2024)

To fulfill the mandates of the IACML, the Technical Secretariat (OAS) works in close coordination with other international organizations, especially with the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

THE WORK PLAN 2022-2024 OF THE IACML IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW AND SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE COMITTEE ON POLICIES OF THE OAS/CIDI

Ministries of Labor of the Americas and focal points