ILO-IMF Tripartite Consultation on Job-Rich and Incusive Growth in the Dominican Republic

On January 30, 2013 a high-level consultation organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was held in the Auditorium of the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic to discuss reforms to sustain economic growth, promote greater productivity and increase the quality and number of jobs in the country. The event brought together representatives of Government, employers' associations and trade unions in the Dominican Republic, with the participation of representatives of the International Trade Union Confederation, the European Union, the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme and academia.

The consultation was part of a joint ILO-IMF initiative to support social dialogue on policies, strategies and programmes for economic recovery and employment generation in three pilot countries. The two other tripartite consultations were held in Bulgaria and Zambia last year. Support to the ILO-IMF initiative is provided by the Government of Norway under the ILO- Norway Cooperation Agreement.

The discussion in the Dominican Republic was based on two background documents prepared by ILO and IMF staff, respectively on Growth, Employment and Social Cohesion in the Dominican Republic and Growth and Employment in the Republic Dominican: Policy Options for a Job-rich and Inclusive Growth. The two papers addressed major challenges to create high-quality jobs in the Dominican Republic and offered policy options for discussion by the participants.

The ILO and the IMF hope that this consultation will enrich the policy debate in the Dominican Republic and help find solutions to generate employment and achieve more inclusive growth. A short joint ILO-IMF document summarized the conclusions of the two papers and provided the main framework for the debate.