ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
Inter-American Council for Integral Development
(CIDI)
XVII INTER-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
OF MINISTERS OF LABOR (IACML)
October 31 to November 1, 2011
San Salvador, El Salvador
OEA/Ser.K/XII.17.1
CIDI/TRABAJO/doc.30/11
1 December 2011
Original: Spanish
REPORT OF THE JOINT MEETINGS OF THE TRADE UNION TECHNICAL
ADVISORY COUNCIL (COSATE) AND THE BUSINESS TECHNICAL ADVISORY
COMMITTEE ON LABOR MATTERS (CEATAL)
The Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE) and the Business Technical
Advisory Committee on Labor Matters (CEATAL) held a joint meeting at noon on October 31, 2011,
within the framework of the XVII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor. Afterwards, at
3:30 p.m., they held a special meeting with the Ministers of Labor.
Presented below is a brief summary of the two meetings.
JOINT MEETING OF COSATE AND CEATAL
Mr. Jorge Saggiante, acting OAS Executive Secretary for Integral Development, emphasized
that the OAS considered that employment was at the heart of the region’s economic and social
concerns and, therefore, it attached great importance to its role as technical secretariat to that
ministerial process. He noted that growth with development and high-quality sustainable employment
was based on productivity and that it was, therefore, important to upgrade investments in education,
ensure safe and decent working conditions, increase social welfare, and strengthen social dialogue. In
conclusion, he underscored that the region’s current economic situation and its demographics
afforded opportunities and posed challenges that the ministries of labor and worker and employer
representatives must respond to through joint measures and efforts.
Francisco Quijano, Chair of COSATE, welcomed the delegates and drew attention to the
workers’ Declaration (CIDI/TRABAJO/doc.24/11), which called upon the ministers of labor to set in
motion a number of core processes to bring about effective social dialogue. It also put forward
specific labor movement demands. He concluded by pointing out that the labor union sector was
prepared to make concrete proposals to contribute to the development of peoples.
John Craig, speaking on behalf of the Chair of CEATAL, said that he was gratified to present
a Joint Declaration with COSATE, which was the outcome of intense negotiations. He noted that
young people provided a great opportunity for development and productivity and, although the two
bodies had not reached agreement on how to address that challenge, there was consensus on how to
initiate discussion and share ideas. He emphasized that the priorities of the private sector for the
IACML were reflected in the CEATAL Declaration.
Marta Pujadas, Vice Chair of COSATE, emphasized that the subject of youth was worthy of
a consensus and that each of the organizations should seek out policies that stood to benefit young
people. She then read out the Joint Declaration presented by COSATE and CEATAL.
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Jorge Saggiante underscored that the OAS attached the utmost importance to the subject of
youth and pointed out that a meeting of ministers and officials responsible for youth in the region was
planned for 2012.
Afterwards, several COSATE and CEATAL delegates expressed their satisfaction with the
Joint Declaration and indicated that it was the concrete result of social dialogue. They noted that the
topic of youth was of special importance to both employers and workers and welcomed the fact that it
had been possible to arrive at a joint declaration after a number of years.
Following those remarks, the Technical Secretariat submitted the Joint Declaration for
consideration. It was adopted by acclamation and the meeting was adjourned.
MEETING OF THE MINISTERS OF LABOR WITH MEMBERS OF COSATE AND
CEATAL
The meeting of the Ministers of Labor with members of COSATE and CEATAL was held on
October 31, 2011, at 3:30 p.m.
The Chair of the XVII IACML welcomed those present and submitted the agenda to
delegations for consideration. It was approved unanimously. He said that ongoing social dialogue
was essential in order to fully implement the various commitments and mandates emanating from the
Conference and, thus, to make that forum relevant. He said that the conclusions and contributions of
the IACML would not have any weight or substantive importance without the vision of workers and
employers, and he emphasized that their participation was a reflection of democracy. He concluded
by urging delegates to maintain a sense of responsibility and make common cause so as to reach
consensus in their efforts to achieve progress and social well-being.
The Chair of COSATE, Francisco Quijano, welcomed all participants and introduced the
workers’ Declaration drawn up by COSATE. He emphasized that the document focused on the need
to hold discussions on the quality of democracy, given the setbacks in freedom of association and
collective bargaining—rights that should be protected and respected. Likewise he drew attention to
some specific violations of union rights in countries of the Americas and called for effective social
dialogue to ensure observance of labor rights.
Amanda Villatoro, Secretary for Trade Union Policy and Education of the Trade Union
Confederation of the Americas (TUCA), also commented on the workers’ Declaration, pointing out
that it called on the ministers of labor to set in motion three core processes to guarantee effective
social dialogue: a discussion on ways out of the crisis; an objective, in-depth review of freedom of
association and collective bargaining; and efforts to address the situation of the most vulnerable
sectors—youth, women, and migrants.
Marta Pujadas, Vice Chair of COSATE, reported on the Joint Declaration presented with
CEATAL. She indicated that it was the result of the resumption of a process initiated several years
earlier and interrupted at the XVI IACML, in Buenos Aires, where it had been impossible to agree on
a joint declaration. She observed that that document demonstrated the political will of both bodies in
connection with an extremely important matter—youth and decent employment—and she proceeded
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to read out the Declaration. She thanked the OAS and the ILO for their support and expressed
appreciation to the worker and employer representatives for approving the Joint Declaration.
Arnoldo Jiménez, Executive Director of the Asociación Nacional de la Empresa Privada
[National Private Enterprise Association] (ANEP), said that participation in such events as the
IACML inspired the private sector in El Salvador to pursue its efforts to create decent employment,
offer vocational training, promote jobs for young people, and foster principles relating to freedom of
association, among other things. He called upon government representatives, workers, and employers
to stand united in order to increase job opportunities in the region and he pointed to the adoption of
the Joint Declaration as evidence that deep aspirations had been met.
John Craig, speaking on behalf of the Chair of CEATAL, Daniel Funes de Rioja, extended
greetings and thanked the OAS for all the support and assistance it had provided to ensure the private
sector’s participation in the IACML. He commented on the Declaration approved by CEATAL
(CIDI/TRABAJO/doc.23/11 rev. 1) and emphasized that it was the result of various consultations and
reflected the private sector’s most important concerns, including its request that the promotion of
sustainable enterprises be included on the IACML agenda. He then read out the CEATAL
Declaration. In conclusion, he thanked the COSATE representatives for the ongoing dialogue and
expressed a will and desire to continue working with them and with governments at future
conferences.
Ronnie Goldberg, Executive Vice President of the United States Council for International
Business (USCIB) and CEATAL representative, commented on two matters of importance to the
IACML: youth employment and gender equity. She noted that business prospered in a climate of peace
and stability and that high youth unemployment was a threat to both. She pointed out that young people
were future entrepreneurs and that it was obvious that talent, productivity, and future capacities would
come from well trained youth. Further, she mentioned that everyone was responsible for guaranteeing a
good foundation for young people, and especially for young women, whose education would benefit the
family and society and was crucial to alleviating poverty. She also emphasized that policies must be
found to help achieve those ends and suggested that they be based on existing best practices in the
region.
The Chair thanked the participants for their comments, congratulated the Conference for the
joint work it had carried out, and received the three declarations submitted. He then opened the floor for
the ministerial dialogue.
The Minister of Labor and Social Security of Costa Rica, Sandra Piszk, commented on the
point made by COSATE that in her country “solidarism” constituted an anti-union practice. She
pointed out that said movement had recently been declared constitutional and indicated that labor
unions’ right to collective bargaining had been and would continue to be respected and strengthened
in Costa Rica.
The Minister of Labour of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Maxwell Charles, commended
the leadership of COSATE in representing the region’s workers and called on delegations to
consolidate democracy. Only then would it be possible to have genuine tripartism and effectively be
able to address labor-related challenges in the region, especially those faced by women, youths, and
persons with disabilities.
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The Minister of Work and Labor Development of Panama, Alma Lorena Cortés, welcomed
the delegations and, contrary to what had been stated by COSATE, said that her government had
recently established a national social dialogue forum to strengthen tripartism and address past
differences between the government and the labor movement.
Mr. Juan Andrés Roballo, head of delegation of Uruguay, hailed the agreement between
COSATE and CEATAL, which focused on youth employment. He said that reinforcement of
ministerial meetings, along with the other proposals made, were essential to increasing the
effectiveness of tripartite social dialogue.
The Minister of Labor and Social Security of Honduras, Felicito Ávila, said that an economic
and social council had recently been set up in his country and that an “anti-crisis plan” had been
established with tripartite participation to discuss such topics as wages, employment, and
productivity. He indicated that those measures had been taken to strengthen tripartism in Honduras.
The Minister of Labor and Social Welfare of Guatemala, Mario Illescas, commented on the
complaint lodged by COSATE regarding violence against union leaders in his country and stated that
such practices had been eliminated since 1985.
Amanda Villatoro took the floor again and expressed appreciation for the joint work of
COSATE and CEATAL. She affirmed that the labor sector wanted to build effective social dialogue
that would yield results. Further, she emphasized that the workers’ Declaration had been drawn up
with that idea in mind and that its intention was to make proposals and not only demands.
There being no other requests for the floor, the Chair thanked the delegations for their
participation, expressed satisfaction with the agreements reached, and declared the meeting closed.
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