BOGOTÁ, Colombia, CMC—Caribbean Community (CARICOM) labor ministers have joined their counterparts from the Americas in endorsing a new initiative that lays the groundwork for addressing the region’s most pressing labor challenges.
The Organization of American States (OAS) says that the ministers have approved the Declaration of Bogotá titled “The Future of Work in the Americas: Building Peace, Social Justice and Climate Action” at their XXII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labour (IACML), .”
“This document lays the groundwork for addressing the region’s most urgent labor challenges, taking advantage of opportunities in an era of rapid technological transformation, and linking environmental protection measures with the creation of sustainable enterprises,” said the OAS, adding that the Plan of Action of Bogota was also approved, “with concrete measures to advance toward these goals.”
St. Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the OAS and chair of the OAS Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), Ambassador Elizabeth Darius-Clarke, said the meeting, which ended on the weekend, has set the stage for the work “we must now undertake.
“The Declaration and Plan of Action of Bogota are not just documenting; they chart a course for addressing the challenges ahead and seizing the opportunities before us,” she said, adding, “Our commitment to the future of work demands more than words; it demands action.”
The Belizean diplomat and the OAS Assistant Secretary General, Néstor Mendez, said, “We are convinced that with the agreements made, the Declaration, and the Plan of Action of Bogotá, we have a clear path to create better conditions for the people of the region in the next three years.
“Colombia’s commitment and leadership on the issues discussed have been key to growing this conference and strengthening it,” he added.
Organized by the OAS and the Colombian Ministry of Labour, “the Inter-American conference underscored the need for swift and coordinated regional action.”
The OAS said that the ministries from the region recognized “the critical impact of emerging technologies and the transition to greener economies, highlighting the importance of shaping labor markets that are inclusive and resilient” during their meeting.
The OAS said the ministers also adopted the Bogota Plan of Action, a concrete roadmap for regional cooperation, to ensure that the Declaration’s commitments are fulfilled.
“The Plan emphasizes the need for integrated public policies and to strengthen the institutional capacity of the labor ministries. At the heart of the Plan is promoting social dialogue and tripartism, ensuring that governments, employers, and workers collaborate to create a more equitable and sustainable future of work.”
Colombia’s Minister of Labor, Gloria Inés Ramírez Rios, emphasized that for the first time in the framework of these conferences, “the issue of occupational safety and health has been taken beyond the topic of safety and health to strengthen a path that not only protects the planet but also humanity” and “the changes and labor transformation driven by the impact of technologies.”
The minister referred to the action roadmap developed during the conference and pointed out that it defines three fundamental challenges to be worked on: “building peace, social justice, and climate action.”
In their joint Declaration, the OAS said ministers of labor and heads of delegation reaffirmed their commitment to Promote social justice, gender, and racial equity, combat discrimination and violence in the workplace, and address the challenges and opportunities posed by emerging technologies.
Going forward, the OAS said member-states will lead the implementation of the Plan, “driving efforts towards a more inclusive and sustainable future of work in the region.”
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