The International Labour Organization (hereinafter referred to as the "ILO") and the Caribbean Community (hereinafter referred to as CARICOM):

Considering that the purpose of CARICOM is to contribute to the harmonious economic growth and development of its member countries in the Caribbean and to promote co-operation and integration among them having special and urgent regard to the establishment of a single market and economy,

Recognizing that the ILO is seeking to enlarge its cooperation and partnership with Caribbean-based organizations with a view to facilitating the development and implementation of coordinated and coherent policies and strategies in the context of its overall endeavour to promote policies that reconcile economic efficiency with equity and social justice in a globalized economy, and to enhance the capacity of Governments and social partners to effectively and constructively deal with the challenges and opportunities of globalization,

Mindful that CARICOM as a regional membership organization and the ILO as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations system have complementary roles,

Desirous of contributing to the achievement of the objectives which they have in common, and more particularly, the development in their common member countries of labour and labour market policies, legal systems and institutional capacities that facilitate the region's economic and social development, promote regional integration into a single market and economy and assist the region to better manage the process of hemispheric and global economic integration,

Recalling that the ILO and CARICOM have a long-standing and constructive relationship, which was built on the foundation of the Cooperation Agreement, concluded between the two organizations in May 1982,

Mindful of the need to adjust this agreement to the new priorities, the institutional capacities and to the new international environment, and

Conscious of the need for continued collaboration for the advancement of their respective objectives,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

Article 1

This Cooperation Agreement modifies and supersedes the ILO/CARICOM Cooperation Agreement of May 1982.

Article 2
Purpose and Scope

The purpose of the modified Agreement is to improve the collaboration between the ILO and CARICOM, taking into account new international and regional developments. Accordingly, collaboration is particularly envisioned in the following areas:

a) Policy Development

1. Formulation of labour and labour market policies, harmonization of labour law and the promotion of greater synergy and compatibility between the economic and social spheres within the countries of the region.

2. Enhancing the participation of employers' and workers' organizations in the development of labour and labour market policies and ensuring that their views are duly taken into account in matters pertaining to the development of labour and related policies.

3. The development of sectoral policies, in particular in areas such as industrial relations, vocational training, employment and labour market, labour mobility, social security, occupational safety and health and enterprise development.

4. Promoting the recognition for the labour dimension of hemispheric and global integration and the respect for international labour standards, notably the fundamental rights at work enshrined in the 1998 ILO Declaration.

b) Institution and capacity building

5. Promoting the reform of Ministries of Labour, in particular with a view to strengthening their capacity to carry out the necessary reform of the labour market.

6. Facilitating networking and information exchange among public and private stakeholders in the region using the Internet and other formal as well as informal mechanisms with a view to enhancing the capacity of civil society to participate in policy development.

7. Contributing to the improvement of labour market information systems and related information bases.

8. Assist regional and national organizations in the design and utilization of labour market research.

c) General matters

9. Cooperating in all other matters, which are consistent with the objectives of both organizations, and in accordance with the spirit of this Agreement.

10. Any activity carried out by the ILO or CARICOM pursuant to this Agreement shall be consistent with the policies, rules and regulations of each organization.

Article 3
Mutual Consultation

The ILO and CARICOM shall maintain regular consultations on matters of common interest for the purpose of furthering the effective achievement of the objectives they have in common and to ensure the greatest possible coordination of activities with a view to utilizing to the full the resources of the two organizations.

Article 4
Exchange of Information

1. ILO and CARICOM shall keep each other informed of the development of their respective activities with regard to social questions of interest to the Member States of CARICOM. Each organization shall consider any observations concerning the development of these activities, which may be communicated to it by the other organization with a view to achieving effective coordination between the two organizations.

2. Subject to such measures as may be necessary to safeguard the confidential character of certain documents, ILO and CARICOM shall arrange the fullest exchanges of information and documents concerning matters of common interest.

Article 5
Reciprocal Representation

The ILO shall invite CARICOM to be represented at meetings of the International Labour Conference and at such other meetings as may be of interest to CARICOM. CARICOM shall invite the ILO to be represented at the relevant meetings of CARICOM, which are of interest to the ILO and to participate in those meetings, without the right to vote, in discussions on subjects that are within the competence of the ILO.

Article 6
Entry into Force, Modification and Termination

1. The modification of the 1982 ILO/CARICOM Cooperation Agreement will enter into force on the date on which the parties have expressed their written consent to the modified version of the Agreement.

2. The present Agreement may be modified with the written consent of the two parties.

3. The present Agreement may be terminated by the written consent of the two parties or by either party giving the other party six (6) months written notice.

***

Concluded by Exchange of letters of 10 March 2000 and 25 April 2000 between the Director of the ILO Office in Port of Spain and the Secretary-General of CARICOM
Date of entry into force: 25 April 2000
Unpublished