Social dialogue
Suriname strengthens social dialogue through AAC workshops
These initiatives are part of the SUR129 Outcome-Based Workplan and reflect Suriname’s commitment to inclusive, effective social dialogue for national progress.
13 March 2025
PARAMARIBO (ILO News) - In March 2025, members of Suriname’s Labour Advisory Board (Arbeidsadviescollege - AAC) participated in two key workshops aimed at strengthening social dialogue in policymaking. The AAC is a tripartite social dialogue institution that advises the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs on a wide range of employment issues.
On 8 March, the tripartite members of the AAC attended a capacity-building session focused on preconditions for effective social dialogue and soft skills such as negotiations and consensus-building. This was followed by a two-day workshop on March 10 and 11, dedicated to the implementation of the ILO Self-Assessment Method for Social Dialogue Institutions (SAM-SDI) to evaluate the AAC’s performance and develop strategies for improvement.
"The process of applying the SAM-SDI helped foster an internal working culture based on open dialogue and mutual respect", said Nancy Varela, ILO Social Dialogue and Labour Administration Specialist. It helped build a shared understanding of the history and context of the AAC by analysing the wider institutional environment in which it operates and reviewing its legal and institutional frameworks.
The AAC members assessed various dimensions of the Institution's inclusiveness and effectiveness through a series of guiding questions. The findings of the assessment formed the basis for the formulation of a plan of action comprised of objectives and activities to enhance the inclusiveness and effectiveness of the AAC.
Suriname is the first country in the Latin America and Caribbean region to apply the SAM-SDI. The assessment tool has been implemented in a number of countries in Asia, Africa and Europe. Suriname's rich tradition of social dialogue is reflected in its numerous institutionalized social dialogue structures, such as the Decent Work Country Programme Steering Committee, which operate across various policy areas and levels. The implementation of the SAM-SDI and the creation of a plan of action with targeted improvement measures further underscores Suriname's strong commitment to tripartite social dialogue.
The capacity-building session and the self-assessment are closely aligned with the objectives of Suriname's Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2021-2026, which emphasizes the pivotal role of participatory decision-making in fostering national development, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Social dialogue is integrated across all DWCP priorities and is seen as a cornerstone for achieving greater inclusiveness in tripartite bodies.
“This exercise was necessary as the AAC's internal processes have not been reviewed since its inception,” added the Government spokesperson, Mr Glenn Piroe. “The assessment provided at an early stage, some very relevant points to strengthen the AAC in the short term.”
The activities in Suriname received support from the ILO Regional Initiative on Strengthening Social Dialogue and Collective Labour Relations in Latin America and the Caribbean (IRDS) that supports tripartite constituents in the development of a comprehensive and viable framework of policies and practices for social dialogue based on international labour standards.