international news

Policies to tackle the crisis: Global Jobs Pact in Argentina Tripartite Meeting

Tripartite Meeting

A Tripartite Meeting on Policies to tackle the crisis was held this morning within the framework of the International Labour Organization

A Tripartite Meeting on Policies to tackle the crisis was held this morning within the framework of the International Labour Organization: The Global Jobs Pact. Guy Ryder, ILO Executive Director of the Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Sector; Elizabeth Tinoco, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean; Carlos Tomada, Minister of Labour; Gerardo Martinez, CGT RA Foreign Affairs Secretary; Daniel Funes de Rioja, President of the Argentine Industrial Union [UIA] Social Policies Department and Marcelo Castro Fox, ILO Director in Argentina participated in the opening ceremony. 

In his opening speech, Guy Ryder remembered that the Global Jobs Pact in 2009 declared that the world should be different after the economic crisis and nowadays thinking is if there is political will of entrepreneurs, governmental and union heads to keep the promise of a better world, a fairer globalization based on decent work.  Argentina commitment, from its government, union and business organizations, means that this country can adopt the Global Jobs Pact, with deep traditions on social dialogue, which allows a successful way out of the crisis, Argentina has activated the minimum wages and increased social protection mechanisms. He thanked Argentina for its main role at G20 which brought about ILO inclusion at G20; there is an urgent need for international coherence among organizations. 

In turn, Daniel Funes Rioja described that the change of ILO´s agenda during 2009 was due to employers initiative, with a major boost from central countries which were the epicenter of this crisis.  He spoke on behalf of market economy without underestimating the role of an efficient State. From the employers ‘point of view, the connection between Decent Work principles and the statement of sustainable enterprises are the basis for the Global Jobs Pact. 

Afterwards, Gerardo Martinez, as Member of the ILO´s Governing Body, declared that globalization  from the 90´s created a new division of international labour and trade unions had to be up to the situation to be adjusted to the new rules of the game and fight for a new place. Before economic crisis, debates did not share equal conditions, financial transactions and multinational priorities did not include trade unions opinion what predicted that the globalization model would bring about structural crisis. A globalization that brought about inequality and financial speculation Juan Somavia appeared when crisis exploded, in addition, nowadays we have Guy Ryder who has the concept of working from reality and global events, particularly in our region.  When we travel around Latin America we realize that there is no social dialogue in the 70% of countries, there is no chance of debate on working conditions or collective bargaining, that is why the Global Jobs Pact becomes the fundamental tool to deepen tripartite social dialogue, with steady and permanent implementation in the development of public policies. World Unions will support ILO´s major role. Work is a political definition, policies must be aimed at employment, the market must be efficient and sustainable, from the economic point of view, where competitiveness must be based on full respect of workers’ rights. Workers demand the safeguard of social peace, and for that purpose workers must be heard and respected and do not passively accept IFM nor market organizations impositions. For that reason we demand commitment from international organizations and Labour Ministries to elaborate and implement G20 policies. Such example can be delivered by the implementation of the Global Jobs Pact and the Multidisciplinary Working Team. Afterwards, Mr. Martinez invited Hugo Yasky, CTA General Secretary to join the round table.  

Hugo Yasky thanked invitation and panelists. He expressed that Tripartism is the tool to elaborate national and international Policies, and there is a need for a Council for Economic and Social Development. In the 90´s IMF policies prevented Tripartism because everything was decided through a Letter of Intent between the government and that financial organization. The learning throughout these years, in the union’s movement in particular, with the creation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
 There was also a change as regards the presence of Lula and Cristina Kirchner in the G20. In Argentina, there still exist deep contrast, as well as in Latin America, the two Confederations are driving a project towards income redistribution, meanwhile slave jobs have been discovered in rural areas, with migrant workers and labour child exploitation. 

Minister Tomada closing speech, analyzed the preventive policies adopted in Argentina to reduce the crisis impact and Tripartism commitment and the social dialogue to implement the Global Jobs Pact. 

Afterwards, the meeting continued with the Conference by Raymond Torres, Director of ILO's International Institute for Labour on “;The Role of Labour Market Institutions in employment recovery”; Marta Novick, Undersecretary of Technical Planning and Labour Studies of the MTEySS and three Round tables: Collective Bargaining and Minimum Wage (Andres Marinakis -ILO- Marita González -CGT-, Carlos Aldao Zapiola -UIA, Pablo Titiro - MTEySS-); Labour Inspection (Mariluz Vega - ILO- Guillermo Alonso Navone - MTEySS- Pedro Taddei -CGT-, Juan Carlos Marinari -UIA) and Social Protection, Fabio Bertranou -ILO-, Marta Pujadas -CGT, Emilia Roca - MTEySS-, Juan José Etala -UIA-)

Tweet