The theme of the XXI IACML was: "Building a more resilient world of work with sustainable development, decent work, productive employment, and social inclusion". The Ministers discussed and proposed hemispheric actions to address the devastating effects of COVID-19 on employment, build a new and better world of work, and develop more resilient, just and equitable societies. Under this approach, they discussed the future of work; the articulation between labor, economic, education and health policies; the expansion of social protection; the centrality of institutionalized social dialogue to overcome the crisis; and the strengthening of the Ministries of Labor to address emerging changes in the world of work, such as telework and the platform economy, among other issues of utmost relevance.

The XXI IACML was the first virtual OAS Ministerial Labor Conference and took place under the Chairmanship of the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security of Argentina.

The meetings of the two IACML Consultative Bodies; the Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE), representing workers; and the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Matters (CEATAL), representing employers; also took place during these dates.

Documents approved during the Conference:

MAIN OUTCOMES:

• The approval of the Declaration and Plan of Action of Buenos Aires, which mark a new roadmap. They contain the Hemisphere's consensus on priorities and concrete actions the region needs to take collectively, in the months and years to come, in order to build a more resilient world of work with sustainable development, decent work, productive employment, and social inclusion on issues such as: the preventive approach to occupational safety and health; universal social protection; improving compliance with labor laws; addressing work on digital platforms, telework and work from home; institutionalized social dialogue mechanisms; identification and development of 'skills for the future'; better coordination between education and labor; work towards the development of a Regional Qualifications Framework at the level of the Americas; deepening the institutionalization of gender in the Ministries of Labor as a means to achieve gender equality; and equal access of vulnerable persons to the labor market and full protection of their labor rights, considering that they have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
  

• The virtual presence of no less than 30 delegations from Member States, 20 of which were headed by Ministers of Labor, representing all sub-regions of the Americas, as well as workers' and employers' representatives, and leaders and specialists from international organizations and special guests. It is worth noting the presence of the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, ILO Director General, Guy Ryder; the Minister of Education of Antigua and Barbuda, Darryl Matthew, Chair of the CIE; and the Minister of Labor of Spain, Yolanda Diaz.
  
• First ever tripartite session, with the Chairs and members of COSATE and CEATAL, around 'Institutionalized social dialogue to recover from the crisis and secure a future of work with social justice and sustainable development'.
• Recognition of the value and relevance of the Conference's cooperation mechanism, the Inter-American Network for Labor Administration (RIAL), in supporting the Ministries of Labor in the way forward. The video presented during the Conference about the RIAL's impacts is available here.
• Reinforcement of the commitment to improve coordination between education and employment with the distinguished presence of the Minister of Education of Antigua and Barbuda, Chair of the Inter-American Committee on Education (CIE).
• Publication of the most recent gender study 'The Institutionalization of a Gender Approach in the Ministries of Labor of The Americas: Balance of a Decade'. This publication is even more relevant today than when it was envisioned in the XX IACML, given COVID-19 has disproportionately affected women. 
• Establishment of two Working Groups to deepen the analysis of the Conference's priority themes, and election of their respective authorities as follows:

Working Group 1: Integrated public policies to address the COVID-19 crisis and achieve a human-centered, inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery for a future of work with equity, social justice, and decent work

Authorities: Ministers of Labor of Chile (Chair), Trinidad and Tobago (Vice Chair) and Costa Rica (Vice Chair)

Working Group 2: Institutional strengthening of Ministries of Labor, and promoting institutionalized social dialogue to recover from the COVID-19 crisis and address emerging changes in the world of work

Authorities: Ministers of Labor of Colombia (Chair), Panama (Vice Chair), and United States (Vice Chair).

Decision made to hold the XXII IACML in Colombia in 2024.

Documents of the meeting: