ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL DISCUSSES ROLE OF United Nations SYSTEM

IN PROMOTING DECENT WORK AGENDA IN LATIN AMERICA

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 9 July (UN Information Service) -- The Economic and Social Council this morning discussed the role of the United Nations system in promoting employment and the decent work agenda in Latin America.

The panellists included Rebecca Grynspan, Regional Director of the United Nations Development Programme; Marcela Suazo, Regional Director of the United Nations Population Fund; Philippe Egger, Deputy Director of the International Labour Organization; and Nils Kastberg, Regional Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Hilario G. Davide, Jr. ( Philippines), Vice-President of the Council, in introductory remarks to the panel discussion, said that the decent work agenda was defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO), and endorsed by the international community as an opportunity for women and men to obtain productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.  Between 2001 and 2005, the ILO launched a number of pilot Decent Work Country Programmes in selected countries under these premises.  These had now evolved initially as an instrument to promote and integrate the decent work agenda into their national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies.  These Programmes emphasised the importance of linking the decent work agenda with major national policy frameworks, and thus provided an important platform to promote greater policy coherence at the country level.

Ms. Grynspan said the subject of employment and decent work was extremely important in social and economic policies being developed in the region.  All organizations within the United Nations system should support efforts geared to achieve productive employment and decent work.  Economic growth had been more than 4 per cent, pushing back poverty and creating jobs.  A joint agenda for labour at the regional level was being developed. The Toolkit developed by the International Labour Organization was a significant instrument to promote decent work on the agenda.  It would be a vital instrument to generate more coherence.  Joint efforts and a common determination within the United Nations were important.

Ms. Suazo said the United Nations system had been undertaking efforts in order to have more coherent and coordinated work.  One of the results of this was the planning and implementation of joint initiatives among the various funds, programmes and agencies of the United Nations in the region.  In employment and decent work, UNFPA believed it was absolutely vital to understand population trends, migratory processes, and the condition of inequality of employment for women and young people.  The region had many countries that were grappling with such problems as high numbers of young people who were unemployed, as well as indigenous peoples. Analysing the participation of women in the labour market should take into account a number of determining factors, including the reproductive ability of women, women’s gender and their points of view and rights.

Mr. Egger said economic growth in the region was not fulfilling its role of promoting social integration.  In the region, there were many examples of programmes in place promoting the concept of decent work.  Governments as well as the business world had a strong desire to put an end to child and forced labour.  Macroeconomic policies today had to take into account employment as well as productive and decent work.  There needed to be different policies depending on the different economic sectors. There was a lot more coherence amongst the policies in place but more coherence politically speaking was still needed.  The United Nations needed therefore to undertake an effort to convert their reports into a political argument in order to make progress for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mr. Kastberg said UNICEF’s agenda of decent work was extremely important, and its programmes showed that it was possible to prevent child labour.  Education to replace child labour was at the very centre of UNICEF’s work, and it wished to highlight the importance of decent work as an issue in order to provide better conditions for the poorest families in the region.  It was important to continue on this path, and the close cooperation among the various United Nations system agencies in Latin America and their coordination to alleviate poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals should be noted.

In the course of the panel discussion, speakers raised a number of issues and questions, including the promotion of decent work for all being a matter of employment, social protection and governance.  It should be integrated in poverty reduction strategies.  The question was raised if an overall country evaluation had been done and what were the main conclusions and results.  Further clarification of the good practices on immigration, social progress and income distribution was asked.  Decent work must be a global objective to ensure that globalization was fair and had a human aspect.  The topic of employment needed to be a cross cutting issue.  Economic growth as such was not enough.  In addition, a question was raised on the cooperation with United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in the region.  Another member raised a question on what influence environmental factors such as climate change had on specific countries, such as Bolivia.  Recovering the ownership of natural resources was an important issue one must consider.

Within the context of the panel discussion, representatives of the following states took the floor: Portugal, Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, El Salvador, Honduras, Indonesia, Barbados, Algeria, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Morocco.

The Council will resume its session this afternoon at 3 p.m., when it will continue with its coordination segment, hear an introductory statement on the report of the Secretary-General on the role of the United Nations system in promoting full and productive employment and decent work for all and hold a general discussion.

Introductory Statement

HILARIO G. DAVIDE, JR. ( Philippines), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council, in introductory remarks to the panel discussion, said the decent work agenda was defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO), and endorsed by the international community as an opportunity for women and men to obtain productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.  In 2000, the ILO developed a pilot initiative to find practical ways to translate the decent work agenda into a coherent policy approach at the country level that would translate the concept of decent work into national policy agendas.

Between 2001 and 2005, the ILO launched a number of pilot Decent Work Country Programmes in selected countries under these premises.  These had now evolved initially as an instrument to promote and integrate the decent work agenda into their national development strategies, including poverty reduction strategies.  These Programmes emphasised the importance of linking the decent work agenda with major national policy frameworks, and thus provided an important platform to promote greater policy coherence at the country level.  The 2006 Council Ministerial Declaration had invited all relevant United Nations system organizations and partners to take into account the ILO initiative in order to achieve a more coherent and pragmatic United Nations approach to development at the national level.

The panel discussion would show how United Nations system organizations had been collaborating at the regional and country levels, in the context of the decent work agenda, and the extent by which decent work agenda priorities had enhanced country-level programming.

Statements by Panellists

REBECCA GRYNSPAN, Regional Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said that the subject of employment and decent work was extremely important in social and economic policies being developed in the Latin American region.  All organizations within the United Nations system should support efforts geared to achieve productive employment and decent work.  The United Nations Development Programme and the International Labour Organization in the region were trying to strengthen the cooperation there.  All of this was taking place while there was an urgent need in the region.  In the last four years, unemployment had decreased in Latin America.  Economic growth had been more than 4 per cent, pushing back poverty and creating jobs.  People had salaries, but did not have social protection.  An increase in the economically active section of the population had led to a higher unemployment rate among them.  Unemployment for women also continued to be higher than for the average.  Moreover, the salary gap between men and women was widening.

Looking at youth unemployment, one out of every fourth adolescents in the region was not studying and not working and was therefore not integrated in the working society, Ms. Grynspan said.  The issue of youth crime thus became an important issue in Latin America.  Economic growth including quality work, social inclusion of workers, youth employment and gender employment was important.

Employment was not only a technical issue.  The United Nations Development Programme based its vision on the concept of human development.  The International Labour Organization based its vision on the agenda of decent work.  These two agendas were entirely compatible with each other.  For implementing these agendas, each institution had taken advantage of its comparative advantages.  The International Labour Organization had a mandate for decent work on its agenda and had provided a Toolkit.

The United Nations Development Programme brought to the table institutional development and democratic government, Ms. Grynspan said.  The mandate was broad.  Based on this, a joint agenda for labour was being developed.  A number of pilot countries had been agreed on, among others Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and Uruguay.  A joint agenda for labour at the regional level was being developed.  Several systems of assistance were thus created.  In Mexico, an index of social competitiveness was established.  The absence of child labour and the length of the workweek were among others helpful indicators, used by the organizations.  The Toolkit developed by the International Labour Organization was a significant instrument to promote decent work on the agenda.  It would be a vital instrument to generate more coherence.  Joint efforts and a common determination within the United Nations were important.

MARCELA SUAZO, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Regional Director forLatin America and the Caribbean, said the United Nations system had been undertaking efforts in order to have more coherent and coordinated work.  One of the results of this was the planning and implementation of joint initiatives among the various funds, programmes and agencies of the United Nations in the region.  In employment and decent work, UNFPA believed it was absolutely vital to understand population trends, migratory processes, and the condition of inequality of employment for women and young people.  The region had many countries that were grappling with such problems as high numbers of young people who were unemployed, as well as indigenous peoples.   This could be remedied by programmes providing tools and training with regards to entering into the employment market.

On migratory processes, the region had high rates of migration, with some 20 million people migrating, in particular women, which latter were therefore open to particular forms of exploitation, including trafficking, which highlighted the importance of migration and its impact on the region.  There was a need for appropriate policies for the families left behind as well.  The active population had grown over recent decades, including women.  Women were largely employed in unproductive jobs, domestic service, and in roles linked to their reproductive status.  Today, there was no equality of employment or of access to employment, and skills were still an issue for women.  Another issue was equal pay for equal work, as on average women received up to 30 per cent less than men for the same jobs and responsibility.

In the case of adolescent pregnancy, there was no decreasing trend, and they took place mostly in the more economically depressed groups.  UNFPA had emphasised decent work and what went to promote this, and had therefore contributed, through its work in the region, to the United Nations programme in this regard.  At a regional level, it also supported the Tenth Regional Conference on Women, and would work to produce policies conciliating productive work and reproduction.  Analysing the participation of women in the labour market should take into account a number of determining factors, including the reproductive ability of women, women’s gender and points of view and rights.  Population policies provided new opportunities, but also challenges in implementing policies that could improve the situation, without losing sight of the challenges that needed to be met.  UNFPA would continue to support efforts to promote decent work in the region through its programmes.

PHILIPPE EGGER, Deputy Director of the Office of the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, said that economic growth in the Latin American region was not fulfilling its role of promoting social integration.  The world was seeking to strike a new balance between the social and the economic, between the generation of wealth and the generation of opportunity for all men and women.  That was why the concept of decent work was put forward.  In the region, there were many examples of programmes in place promoting the concept of decent work.  Governments and the business world had a strong desire to put an end to child and forced labour.  Some 15 years ago, one could still read about child labour being a source of competitive advantage.  Today, strong action could be seen in this area, including strong financing so that children were sent to school and not forced to work.

There was also a commitment for greater equality between men and women and a greater inclusion of women in the labour market, Mr. Egger said.  People of different genders who were doing the same job should be treated equally.  Fifteen per cent of the fully employed in the region were employed in the informal sector and did not have any social security.  Macroeconomic policies today had to take into account employment as well as productive and decent work.  There needed to be different policies depending on the different economic sectors.  With regard to the labour market for young people, it was possible for every adolescent to have an education and decent work opportunities.  On the issue of small and medium sized businesses, there were a lot of opportunities.  But an assessment would be needed to improve the productivity.  Social protection reforms introduced in Chile in the 1990s had not ensured social protection for all citizens.  Public policies were missing so that everyone could have access to social security and a minimum retirement pension.

Many of the mentioned measures were technically possible, Mr. Egger said.  Financially speaking, these goals were achievable.  Socially they would be vital and politically necessary.  Based on experience, it was possible to extend policies to make headway with the agenda and to eradicate poverty and promote more equitable societies in the region.  Two major challenges in the immediate future were mentioned.  One could conclude that there was more convergence among policies and that balanced growth was necessary, but not enough to make it possible for people to lift themselves out of poverty.  There was a lot more coherence amongst the policies in place but more coherence politically speaking was still needed.  Secondly, on the role of the United Nations system as a whole, the reports drafted did not reach the political levels where financing was involved.  The United Nations needed therefore to undertake an effort to convert their reports into a political argument in order to make progress for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean.

NILS KASTBERG, Regional Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said UNICEF’s agenda of decent work was extremely important, and its programmes showed that it was possible to prevent child labour.  Education to replace child labour was at the very centre of UNICEF’s work, and it wished to highlight the importance of decent work as an issue in order to provide better conditions for the poorest families in the region.  It was important to continue on this path, and the close cooperation among the various United Nations system agencies in Latin America and their coordination to alleviate poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals should be noted.

Discussion

Speakers then raised a number of issues and questions, including the promotion of decent work for all being a matter of employment, social protection and governance.  It should be integrated in poverty reduction strategies.  The International Labour Organization worldwide ratification of core labour standards was welcomed.  Best practices should be identified to ensure the future implementation of the programmes.  The question was raised if an overall country evaluation had been done and what were the main conclusions and results.  Further clarification of the good practices on immigration, social progress and income distribution was asked.  On the concept of decent work and job creation, the presentations showed what role the United Nations system could play.  In relation to this issue, a speaker asked what specific contributions could be made by international agencies in the public sector to gradually ensure that there was a sustainable job creation and not only a short-term one.  Consistency in the United Nations system was noticed.  It was important to achieve four strategic goals, including the promotion of the right to work and social protection and social dialogue.  The exploitation of migrant workers, inequalities between men and women and the lack of protection in social security were all problems when looking at the progress in the promotion of decent work.

Global measures worldwide needed therefore to be taken, speakers said.  Decent work must be a global objective to ensure that globalization was fair and had a human aspect.  The topic of employment needed to be a cross cutting issue.  Economic growth as such was not enough.  Job creation was also not enough.  Public protection needed to be established to create quality jobs.  The subject of migrant workers was often overlooked.  It was asked how children could be integrated.  In addition, a question was raised on the cooperation with United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in the region.  More information was asked in relation to the competitiveness index in Mexico.  Another member raised the question on what influence environmental factors such as climate change had on specific countries, such as Bolivia.  Recovering the ownership of the natural resources was an important issue one must reconsider.  Some countries had fallen back because of these reasons.  Real public policies should be developed in the informal sector, to ensure that people had access to social security.  With regard to youth employment, there was a lack in job access, increasing conflict.  Joint strategies should therefore be put in place, including governments and the civil society.  Interdisciplinary joint programmes in the field might help to overcome the conflicts and dangerous situation that existed.  One needed to be refocused on programmes bringing peace and tranquillity.

Another speaker mentioned that necessary instruments were needed such as declarations to implement the concept of decent work in various countries.  The promotion of micro and small credit was essential, as small and medium sized enterprises were generating most of the employment in Latin America.  Pragmatic and healthy policies were thus needed in the field of micro credit.  Training for young people was also mentioned as an important issue, both for boys and girls.  The United Nations needed to seek out a strategy making it possible to transfer all the technologies that less developed countries needed from the developed countries.  A concern was expressed with regard to the money sent back from immigrant workers from abroad.  Public policies needed to be promoted to help migrant workers.  With regard to micro credits, initiatives should be launched by the United Nations as a practical means of promoting decent work.  World mobilization was needed to promote micro credit.  Policy coherence at the country level and in national strategies was welcomed as very useful.  Another speaker mentioned that pro-poor private sector creation was important.

Concluding Remarks

Mr. EGGER said it had been a very rich debate, and many major issues had been put forward.  On evaluation, he said the ILO carried out regular evaluations of its programmes, including the national or country programmes.  The financial contribution of the United Nations was quite small when considered in the context of official development aid, and the contribution of the ILO was even smaller.  Evaluations did attest to the success of various programmes.

On economic policy and employment, and opening the economy, today there was a better understanding of gradual and mutual beneficent opening, however, there remained the “employment hole” -- more people were asking for decent jobs, rather than just the job they were being offered today.  The ILO was telling policy makers that when they made decisions on the economy or the fiscal system, they should also take into consideration employment issues and the impact that their decision could have on this.  Trade decisions should be made whilst taking into account the potential effects on employment, and should be fine-tuned in the full knowledge of the likely possible employment implications.

On youth employment, and the often critical situation of youth and the problems that unemployed youths could bring to society, the answer was always employment.  In this regard, there was a need for good quality basic education, which led to good quality vocational education, increasing their chances at getting decent employment.  The issue of migrant workers was also of importance.  The whole spectrum of employment policies was relevant.  A number of very welcome comments had been made with regards to issues of credit and banks.  What was needed was a better knowledge of programmes to expand outreach to allow all small enterprises to benefit from credit opportunities.  Social dialogue had never been a guarantee of the success of reforms, but when discussing labour-market and social protection measure reforms, it was always useful to engage in a profound dialogue with representatives of employers and workers.

Ms. SUAZO said the main mandate regarding the creation of decent work was under the leadership of the International Labour Organization.  UNFPA acknowledged that most of the people immigrating at this time were women.  UNFPA had undertaken research and studies on that matter.  This analysis must be taken into account to improve the human rights conditions of women.  Moreover, UNFPA continued to consider the poor and it was important to work towards training for the labour market.

One way of providing women access to the labour market was reproductive heath care, Ms. Suazo said.  The access of young people to the labour market was an important challenge.  It was acknowledged that accessing micro credits was crucial, especially for women.  As far as young people were concerned, they also needed access to training to be able to fully find fulfilment in the jobs available.  Incorporating women’s perspectives was essential.  The offices of UNFPA in the various countries supported the work of International Labour Organization.  Better-coordinated action could be noted leading to the development of decent work for young people and all citizens.

Ms. GRYNSPAN said the discussion had been very rich, deep and broad.  One of the main problems was when the creation of jobs or employment was not actually one of the goals of macro-economic policy -- this had to be reversed.  The issue of the visibility of the effects of macro-economic policy had to be vital.  The effects and impact of these policies needed to be visible, both in terms of employment and social visibility.  It was important to develop indicators that would be used to see the impact of a certain policy.  The social development index was the point -- it measured competitiveness whilst incorporating the social development.  It included child labour, formal employment, access to medical services, the length of the workday, and the absence of the working poor.

When looking at the figures for the last four years in Latin America when there had been much more dynamic economic growth, there had been a doubling of the figures.  However, this did not take into account the jobless growth.  When Latin America grew, so did jobs, but quality of jobs did not improve.  The issue in the region was thus quality of work, rather than quantity.  Social protection was also an issue.  The labour market continued to be discriminatory, in particular against women and the young.  There was a need to generate trends in order to reverse this, and all agencies of the United Nations system were working in this regard.  One of the main themes of this work was to keep children in schools for as long as possible, and these programmes had had a massive impact in the region -- however, this remained insufficient.

On gender, the United Nations system was working closely to improve the situation, and UNDP was collaborating closely with UNIFEM in this regard.  Women were very well represented on the labour market, however once they had a job, they were discriminated against in terms of wages.  The gap in salaries between men and women had widened significantly, and was widest at the highest levels of education.  This required intervention through anti-discriminatory policies.  UNDP was also working with UNICEF on how migration affected families, and what happened to family networks as a result of emigration.

Mr. KASTBERG said that he wanted to respond to the issue that decent work needed a cross cutting response.  One answer particularly was on how the United Nations could respond and one particularly was on how could the Economic and Social Council be of value.  There was on the one hand child labour and on the other youth unemployment.  A broad approach on precondition areas was necessary.  This should start not only at the stage of education but already starting pregnancy.  Over 16 per cent of the children in Latin America suffered from chronic under nutrition.  That should be the main indicator -- to measure malnutrition.  That would affect the children’s learning capabilities later on.  The regional team was trying to make visible these issues so that the public policies could start addressing them.  Looking at education, the main groups suffering from exclusion were the indigenous people, afro-descendants and people with disabilities.  Jamaica was the first country to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Bolivia had one of the best practices concerning bilingual education, Mr. Kastberg said.  The issue of migration was a major challenge, but a number of good practices could be noted.  On the issue of environment, in particular concerning access to potable water, it was vital and needed to be tackled.  A huge change could be noted regarding cash transfer programmes in Latin America, where governments were investing in poor women.  On the question on how ECOSOC could help, it needed to take into account the issue that the United Nations had a role to help in translating the South-South cooperation to other regions of the world.  Employment was not one of the Millennium Development Goals indicators.

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