20th American Regional Meeting

Punta Cana

Closing session of the 20th American Regional Meeting

Thematic plenary sitting: Strategies for public policies for the improvement of skills and vocational training

Dominican Republic

Delegates representing governments, workers, and employers from across the Americas will meet from 1-3 October to discuss world of work issues and set priorities for advancing decent work and social justice.

Website of the 20th American Regional Meeting

<ul><li>Election of the Officers of the Meeting (Government Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, Employer and Worker Vice-Chairpersons)</li><li>Appointment of the members of the Credentials Committee</li><li>Appointment of the members of the Drafting Committee on the conclusions</li><li>Opening address by Mr Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic</li></ul>Opening statements<ul><li>Chairperson of the 20th American Regional Meeting</li><li>Director-General of the International Labour Office</li><li>Employer representative</li><li>Worker representative</li></ul>

Opening session of the 20th American Regional Meeting

Plenary sitting: Discussion of the Report of the ILO Director-General (part 1)

Based on the latest ILO report, which confirms a reduction in child labour worldwide but warns of risks of backsliding, the panelists emphasized the need to intensify efforts in the Americas. Governments, employers and workers shared experiences and policies to prevent and eradicate child labour, highlighting the role of the Regional Initiative Latin America and the Caribbean Free of Child Labour, which drives countries to join efforts through tripartite cooperation. The dialogue reaffirmed the priority of this issue on the regional agenda and the ILO’s role in supporting countries to accelerate progress towards a child labour-free continent. This tripartite interactive dialogue is in Spanish without interpretation.

Tripartite interactive dialogue – Working together towards the eradication of child labour

Plenary sitting: Discussion of the Report of the Director-General (part 2) 

The session will:&nbsp; Analyse the main structural challenges in the world of work in the Americas – stagnating productivity, high informality, inequality and technological, demographic and climate-related transformations – and their implications for the creation of formal and sustainable employment.Examine public and institutional policies designed to promote decent work, such as formalization strategies, comprehensive social protection systems, productivity ecosystems for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and wage policy frameworks (with a special focus on the concept of a living wage).Strengthen social dialogue and coordination among tripartite actors as a cornerstone of progress towards an inclusive and resilient development that combines formal employment, adequate and sustainable social protection, productive enterprises and just transitions in the face of technological and environmental change.

Thematic plenary sitting: Job creation, social protection, and sustainable development

The session will:&nbsp;Analyse the main challenges and opportunities for strengthening the democratic institutions and the governance of the world of work in the region in a context of inequality, informality, technological transformation, demographic transition, climate change and new geopolitical landscapes.Examine the role of institutionalized social dialogue and the fundamental principles and rights at work (freedom of association, collective bargaining, equality and non-discrimination, abolition of child labour and forced labour, occupational safety and health) as pillars of inclusive, resilient and democratic societies.Promote tripartite consensus and an inclusive and gender-responsive approach in order to advance in the modernization of regulatory and institutional frameworks, the capacity building of governments and social partners, and the consolidation of social pacts that support social justice and sustainable development in the Americas.

Thematic plenary sitting: Strengthening democratic institutions, respect of fundamentals rights, and institutionalized social dialogue

The session will:&nbsp;Analyse the key challenges and opportunities of a just transition in the Americas – including climate change, environmental degradation, technological and demographic shifts – and their implications for employment, labour markets, productivity, labour migration and social justice.Examine policy and institutional responses to advance just transition, including the implementation of the ILO’s Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all (Guidelines for a Just Transition) and the resolution and conclusions concerning a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 111th Session (2023), 1 integration of environmental and labour objectives, promotion of green and blue economies, investment in skills and social protection, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups such as women, youth, migrants and indigenous peoples.Strengthen tripartite social dialogue as a cornerstone of a just transition, fostering consensus and coordinated action among governments, workers, and employers to ensure that the transition to sustainable economies is fair, inclusive, and contributes to resilient societies and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Thematic Plenary sitting: Just Transition toward Resilient Societies

Session's objectives:&nbsp; Understand the main challenges faced by vocational training systems in Latin America and the Caribbean in the context of economic, social, demographic, technological and environmental transformations, with special attention devoted to population groups in vulnerable situations (young people, women, migrants, informal workers) and productivity needs, skills and innovation in enterprises, in particular micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.Analyse responses from policymakers, institutions and social actors concerning lifelong vocational training and skill development, with special emphasis on the certification of skills, qualification frameworks, dual training, and digital and cross-cutting skills, in order to identify innovations, opportunities and lessons learned from evidence-based policies in order to expand inclusion and decent work.Promote the links between vocational training, social dialogue and productive sustainable development strategies, strengthening training ecosystems and skills certification as drivers of employability, formalization, gender equality, labour mobility and fair transition in the region.

<ul><li>Presentation and noting of the report of the Credentials Committee</li><li>Adoption of the conclusions</li></ul>Closing statements<ul><li>Government Vice-Chairperson</li><li>Employer Vice-Chairperson</li><li>Worker Vice-Chairperson</li><li>Chairperson of the meeting</li><li>Director-General of the International Labour Office</li></ul>

20th American Regional Meeting

Full schedule

Wednesday, 1 October 2025

Thursday, 2 October 2025

Friday, 3 October 2025