| A bi-weekly look at Labor Administration in the Americas |
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March 2021
NEWSLETTER # 176 |
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Ministries of Labor of the Americas commit to regional cooperation
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At the Information Webinar on the 14th RIAL Call for Proposals, held on February 17, the active participation of the Ministries of Labor reaffirmed the importance of regional labor cooperation, as well as their commitment to continue supporting each other. Representatives of 18 Ministries of Labor, joining from more than 80 connection points throughout the hemisphere, participated in this Webinar, which was divided into a presentation by the Technical Secretariat on the preparation of proposals, where attendees' questions were answered, and a space to identify potential allies (match-making). As an immediate result, 10 pairs of countries were contacted to explore possible cooperation. The complete results of the virtual meeting -including the Q&A session- are available here.
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Americas Competitiveness Forum took place with emphasis in post-COVID recovery
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The OAS Americas Competitiveness Forum, of the Inter-American Competitiveness Network, took place virtually on February 25th. Representatives and regional leaders on innovation shared experiences and information focused on recovery. The event was inaugurated by the President of Ecuador, Mr. Lenin Moreno and the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, who highlighted the role that digital transformation, renewable energy and public-private partnerships will have in the new normal.
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RIAL/OAS study presented at the OAS Committee on Migration Issues
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The meeting of the Committee on Migration Issues held on February 16, 2020 had as its main topic of discussion "“Access to social benefits pensions, and agreements among countries for transferring pensions to social and health services for vulnerable populations in receiving countries”.
During the meeting, the Technical Secretariat of the OAS-RIAL, represented by Maria Claudia Camacho, made a presentation on the study "Analysis of Bilateral and Multilateral Social Security Agreements on Pensions", prepared by mandate of the IACML in partnership with the Inter-American Conference of Social Security (CISS); and Mr. Pedro Contador, Head of the Legislative Advisory and International Coordination Division of the Ministry of Labor of Chile, referred to the Chilean experience in the adoption and implementation of this type of agreements, especially among countries of the region.
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In the presentations and subsequent dialogue with the delegations, it was emphasized that bilateral and multilateral agreements are valuable tools for guaranteeing social and labor rights and, to that extent, protecting migrant workers and their families. Challenges in the application of these agreements were mentioned, mainly linked to the high levels of informality and low social security coverage, as well as technical and administrative complexities in their operation. This means that the agreements have not achieved their full potential and currently reach few people. Some recommendations were mentioned to improve the operation of the agreements, including periodic reviews of the agreements, simplification of processes, and greater dissemination among potential beneficiaries.
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ILO calls to seize opportunities of platforms with social dialogue and decent work
On February 23, the ILO launched the Global Employment and Social Outlook Report, which analyzes the growing role of digital platforms (both web-based and location-based) in transforming the world of work. The study highlights the major challenges and opportunities posed by platforms. For example, workers of platforms in developing countries tend to earn up to 60 percent less than workers in developed countries, even for occupations requiring the same skills. Other major challenges are the lack of health insurance, workers' compensation benefits and social security coverage in general.
The study concludes that in order to seize the opportunities presented by platforms for job creation, the regulatory challenges they entail must be addressed directly, and that this process must be carried out with social dialogue and with a view to ensuring decent work for all
Read the report
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NEWS FROM THE MINISTRIES
(Includes latest additions to the Portfolio of Responses to COVID-19) |
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Argentina: Resolution on return to on-site schooling and parental leave
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Brazil: New measure to facilitate access to credit for companies and individuals
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Canada: Benefits Expanded to Workers Hardest Hit by Pandemic
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Chile: "Protege" subsidy to support women with caregiving duties
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Guyana: Technical training for 3,500 citizens announced this year
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Mexico: STPS publishes Action Guide for collective bargaining agreements
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Dominican Republic: Program announced to provide electronic signatures to Teleworkers
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Uruguay: New special unemployment insurance regime for tourism workers
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ILO: Employment and Social Outlook Report: the role of digital platforms
More information
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ILO: COVID-19 and the World of Work Monitor 7th Edition
More information
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ILO/ECLAC: Employment Situation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Employment Trends in an unprecedented crisis, policy challenges
More information
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