Experts analyze decent work in economic and social infrastructure projects in the region

(Lima, November 4, 2009).- To analyze productive development and generation of decent work in the region with a view to mitigating the effects of the crisis on the labor market, national and international experts today participated in the Workshop "For a decent job in economic and social infrastructure projects in the region," organized by the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Javier Barreda, Vice Minister of Labor of Peru; Calixto Chipana, Minister of Labor of Bolivia; Eleonora Silva Pardo, CAF director representative in Peru; and Jean Maninat, ILO regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, participated in the opening session of the workshop, which is part of the activities covered by the agreement signed by CAF and ILO last August to create dignified living conditions by promoting opportunities for decent productive work in conditions of freedom, equality, security and human dignity.

The agreement - signed by CAF President & CEO Enrique García and ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Jean Maninat - is the first step in a process of mutual cooperation to mitigate the effects of the crisis on the labor market.

Opening the workshop, Silva said achieving quality growth - generator of decent productive employment respectful of cultural diversity and the environment - was part of the beliefs which inspired CAF to form this alliance with ILO.

"Economic growth, with generation of employment in a context of decent work, is decisive for reducing poverty levels and helps narrow the inequality gap in the region. If we want to strengthen democracy it is crucial to create living conditions which offer dignity to the majority of citizens," the CAF representative said.

For ILO, Maninat said creation of more and better jobs should be at the core of economic policy, and this objective could not be lost from sight even in times of recovery after the crisis.

The official emphasized the importance of infrastructure projects in creating employment. The ILO has been working in this field for over 30 years "through a program whose objective is to ensure that the social impact of investment goes beyond leaving infrastructure to produce an economic gain which strengthens communities," he said.

The methodology of the workshop was presented by José Carrera, CAF vice president of social and environmental development; while José Luis Daza, director of the ILO subregional office for Andean Countries spoke on "The ILO Decent Work Program."

During the activity, Terje Tessem, head of the ILO Employment-Intensive Investment Program, spoke on the "ILO Employment-Intensive Investment Program in infrastructure"; Alberto Medina, general coordinator of the Microenterprise Program, presented a paper on the "Experience in employment-intensive investment in infrastructure works in Paraguay"; while David Palacios Valverde, national director of the Building Peru Program, spoke on the "Experience in employment-intensive investment in infrastructure works in Peru."

To close the workshop, participants debated "Policy actions for promoting decent work in infrastructure projects," moderated by Mario Tueros, senior specialist in development of microenterprises and cooperatives with the ILO Subregional Office for Andean Countries.

The conclusions and closure of the event were in the hands of Antonio Juan Sosa, CAF vice president of infrastructure, and Carmen Moreno, ILO deputy regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.