Decent work and informality in the agricultural sector in Latin America (2019-2023) - Executive Summary

The present executive summary sets out the main findings of the study on decent work and informality in the agricultural sector in Latin America between 2019 and 2023. It highlights that the sector remains essential for rural employment and food security, yet continues to be marked by high levels of informality, productivity gaps, gender inequalities and limited access to social protection. Although agricultural employment demonstrated resilience in the face of successive crises, there were no significant advances in formalisation nor sustained improvements in working conditions.

Drawing on the experiences analysed, the document places particular emphasis on the policy recommendations needed to transform the sector’s productive potential into decent work. These include promoting comprehensive strategies to accelerate formalisation; linking rural policies through strong institutional coordination; connecting formalisation with a just climate transition; ensuring sustained financing; expanding the use of digital technologies; and strengthening tripartite social dialogue. The summary also underscores the importance of expanding social protection, improving technical training in line with the sector’s demands, and ensuring that rural women and young people are central to the solutions. Taken together, the document stresses that moving towards a more productive, inclusive and sustainable agricultural sector requires clear and sustained political decisions.