ILO champions the social solidarity economy at the Caribbean World of Work Forum 2025

Trinidad and Tobago (ILO News) - The Caribbean World of Work Forum 2025, organized by the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies (CCLCS), was held across multiple dates and locations and served as a dynamic platform for critical conversations on the future of work and the potential of the social solidarity economy to drive inclusive growth across the region. The International Labour Organization (ILO) played a prominent role in the forum, reinforcing its commitment to decent work, social justice, and economic transformation tailored to the Caribbean context.

Setting a powerful tone at both events, Dr. André Vincent Henry, Director of CCLCS, delivered the welcome remarks, championing the forum as a space for reimagining economic development in the Caribbean. He emphasized that the cooperative model is not merely a business strategy but a profound commitment to community empowerment and democratic principles. We need to make sense of the reality of the Caribbean world of work. This forum is a crucial step forward,” he stated.

Session in Tobago

On 16 July, a pivotal session featured a keynote address by Mr. John Bliek, ILO Specialist in Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation, titled “The Work of the ILO on the Social and Solidarity Economy.” Mr. Bliek emphasized the ILO’s century-long commitment to cooperatives as essential mechanisms for rural inclusion and equitable development. He highlighted the scale and potential of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE), noting that over three million cooperatives worldwide employ around 10 per cent of the global workforce and generate more than US$2.4 trillion in turnover. “For the ILO, cooperativism is a key mechanism for rural inclusion of all. Therefore, it has been one of the first services provided by the ILO since 1920. Worldwide, one of each 10 jobs is by the Social and Solidarity Economy. So likewise for Tobago, it can lead to strong economic growth and job creation,” said Mr. Bliek, underscoring the SSE’s potential to advance community resilience and decent work.

The Tobago session also featured vibrant local leadership shaping the future of cooperative development. Mr. Dwight Nelson presented on technological solutions to enhance cooperative productivity; Ms. Debbie-Ann Jollie focused on branding and marketing to strengthen cooperative identity; and Mr. Sheldon Salino and Mr. Colin Bartholomew shared a strategic vision for Tobago’s cooperative ecosystem through 2030 and beyond. This exchange of international insight and grassroots action reflected the ILO’s model of blending global expertise with locally driven solutions.

Sessions in Trinidad

Building on this momentum, the forum continued on 22 July at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre with a High-level roundtable discussion on “The future of work: A Social Solidarity Economy approach.” Representing the ILO, Mr. Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, addressed the fundamental shifts facing regional labour markets. “Caribbean labour markets are undergoing profound transformation driven by global megatrends, digitalization, artificial intelligence, demographic shifts and climate change. These evolving conditions are affecting lives and livelihoods,” he noted.

Mr. Musabayana emphasized the critical role of evidence-based policymaking in navigating these shifts and closing decent work gaps. “But we can't put data on the table. What is the size and scale of the social and solidarity economy? What is its contribution to GDP? How many people are working in that sector, and how many are we moving from, let's say, work to decent work?” he asked, highlighting the need for robust data systems to effectively support the growth and visibility of the SSE. He reiterated the ILO’s commitment to helping Caribbean states respond to emerging challenges while advancing SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth for all.

Joining the roundtable, Honourable Colin E. Jordan, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector of Barbados, emphasized the importance of strengthening the social solidarity sector. He called for the creation of supportive, accessible structures that enable cooperatives and similar organizations to thrive. “It will be important for the structures that are established to be facilitative, to be easy to navigate,” he stated, stressing the need for systems that empower these vital entities to effectively carry out their work.

Ms. Sunita Maharaj, Managing Director of the Lloyd Best Institute of the West Indies, added that economic models rooted in cooperation and community empowerment are key to strengthening local resilience. Economist Mr. David Abdulah advocated for people-centred reforms based on participation, equity, and sustainability, core values that align with the SSE and the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda.

In the session titled “Social and Solidarity Economy: Model for Real Development” held on 25 July, Mr. Waltteri Katajamäki, SSE Specialist from the ILO’s Cooperative, Social and Solidarity Economy Unit in Geneva, delivered a video message in which he reaffirmed ILO's commitment to promoting decent work and social justice through the SSE, and noted the unique role of the SSE in tackling key challenges in the Caribbean such as improving access to finance, enhancing social inclusion and building climate resilience. Mr. Katajamäki emphasized the need for stronger legal, policy and data frameworks to fully unlock the potential of cooperatives and other SSE entities, while also underscoring the ILO’s continued collaboration with tripartite constituents and other key partners throughout the sub-region.

Overview

Together, these events demonstrated the ILO’s integral role in the Caribbean World of Work Forum 2025. From Mr. Bliek’s emphasis on cooperatives as engines of inclusive growth in Tobago to Mr. Musabayana’s regional perspective on labour market transformation and the enabling role of data. Across both sessions, a unified message emerged: the Social and Solidarity Economy is not an alternative, it is a viable and necessary model for shaping a just and sustainable future of work in the Caribbean.

As the region grapples with interconnected crises from climate change to digital disruption, the ILO’s enduring partnership with Caribbean states and social partners remains vital. Cooperatives and SSE entities, supported by ILO tools, training, and policy guidance, continue to serve as practical vehicles for social justice and community empowerment. The Caribbean World of Work Forum 2025 has reaffirmed that the future of work must be rooted in solidarity, driven by inclusion, and built for resilience.