Caribbean Labour Ministers to Discuss Labour and Development

Caribbean Ministers of Labour will focus on strengthening decent work for development during meeting on 2-3 July 2013, in Port of Spain, Trinidad

News | 02 July 2013
PORT-OF-SPAIN (ILO News) - Caribbean Ministers of Labour will meet in Port of Spain on July 2 and 3, 2013 and will be addressed by Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder.

Nineteen Labour Ministers of the 22 ILO Caribbean Member States and non-metropolitan territories have confirmed their attendance to the Meeting which will focus on the theme: The Caribbean and Labour 2013 and Beyond – Strengthening Decent Work for Development.

This event follows last month’s 102nd Session of the ILO International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, during which the Director General tabled his report entitled “Towards the ILO centenary: Realities, renewal and tripartite commitment.”

The report, which received strong support at the ILC, focuses on initiatives to address key issues associated with the world of work in the twenty-first century. In it, Ryder draws attention to the impact of global demographic change, environmental sustainability, new technologies, poverty and prosperity, growing inequality, balanced and sustainable economic growth and the changing character of production and employment.

According to the Director of the ILO Office and Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean (DWT-POS, Dr Giovanni di Cola, there is strong regional interest in the principal elements of these issues. Some countries, he said, have already taken the initiative in addressing specific challenges such as the need for green jobs, strengthening social dialogue and exploring the relationship between trade and employment.

“I believe that the Director-General’s report has direct relevance to the issues that are of current concern to the Caribbean social tripartite partners at this time,” Dr di Cola said.

During the 2 day Meeting, various countries are carded to make presentations on the following:

  • Trinidad and Tobago: Road map for the way forward for the Caribbean (2013 and beyond)
  • Guyana: Strengthening of decent work in the pursuit of development
  • Jamaica: Perspectives on the sustainable development agenda as it applies to labour
  • Barbados: Employment and trade
  • Sint Maarten: An introductory presentation during an exchange of views on international and regional labour meetings
  • Suriname: ILO Americas Regional Meetings including the 2010 17th Session hosted in Chile and the 2014 18th Session.

There will also be a report on the 18th Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labour of the Organisation of American States (OAS) hosted in The Bahamas in April 2013.

The Director General will hold bilateral discussions with President Anthony Carmona, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Dookeran.

On Wednesday July 3, he will also host a breakfast meeting with delegates from the Caribbean Employers Confederation (CEC) and Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL).