AREA Programme in Argentina
New Skills and New Faces Revive Argentina’s Naval Industry
South of Buenos Aires is Mar del Plata, a popular seaside resort and one of Argentina’s major ports. For years Mar del Plata had an important ship-building industry, but when the government liberalised the economy in the 1990s most of the ship-yards were forced to downsize or close down. The AREA programme has helped them get back on their feet, by bringing workers, employers and learning institutions together to address the needs of the industry.
Script:
Not far from Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata has lured beach lovers for years. It was once home to Argentina’s shipbuilding industry and until recently, the ships were piling up like sea lions who line the sunny harbour. But the tide may be turning ….
Florencia Garrido, Manager Naval Industry’s Chamber
Since the year 2002, there’s been a recovery in the sector, with a competitive exchange rate, which gave a boost to the fish and naval industries.
Argentina’s return from the brink of economic collapse in 2001 has been due in part to using local strengths and knowledge, like 67-year old José Fernando Jotta.
He has over 30 years of experience to share, but even he comes across unexpected things in the shipyard now and then.
José Fernando Jotta, Supervisor S.P.I. Shipyard
I don’t know… when I arrived here I was surprised to find a woman welder. After 36 years in this profession, that was the last thing I expected.
Mónica, a mother of five, picked up her welding skills at the local vocational school.
Mónica Morán, Welder S.P.I. Shipyard
Women nowadays achieve so much… they make it to politics and other workplaces, so I can do it too.
With advice from the International Labour Organization and Italian funding, the Ministry of Labour’s AREA project helped Mar del Plata’s unions and employers design a curriculum to re-train workers with new skills.
It’s opened up a whole new role for Monica and others like her. One that til now might only have seemed possible in the movies.
Mónica Morán
Yes, people have told me a lot about that Flashdance movie. Some of my workmates have teased me about it. My family as well. They say the only thing missing is for me to start dancing.
But she’s wasting no time in learning even that new skill and what a feeling that is!