The Labour Dimension of Regional Integration and Free Trade Agreements in the Americas. An Update. Second Working Groups Meeting in the framework of the XIII IACML Buenos Aires April 11-13, 2005

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The Labour Dimension of Regional Integration and
Free Trade Agreements in the Americas. An
Update.Second Working Groups Meeting in the
framework of the XIII IACMLBuenos AiresApril
11-13, 2005
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This document

• Updates the findings of the study presented in
  Bahia under the title The Labour Dimension of
  the Regional Integration and Free Trade
  Agreements in the Americas
• After two years, as the World Commission on
  Globalization points out, the importance of this
  process is still recognized.
• Moreover, integration processes continue, and new
  FTAs are being signed.

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Nevertheless,

• The technical debate continues on the labour
  dimension as relevant either to labour law or to
  work and productive progress as such.
• The pending problem continues to lie with
  enforcing the rights by means of national law
  and improving the space for participation in the
  negotiation process involving the social actors.

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Conclusions

• There have been no important changes in normative
  development concerning labour
• Further development of domestic legislation is
  still needed
• In many countries there persist serious
  limitations in compliance with existing rules and
  commitments, because of both non-compliance with
  the law and the presence of wide sectors of
  employment that are not covered by labour
  legislation

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Conclusions

• Application of the law presents problems. Weak
  labour administrations.
• Far from distroying employment or depressing
  wages, integration enhances respect for
  fundamental rights.
• There is a consensus on the need to neither
  promote nor accept spurious competitiveness based
  on failure to comply with the fundamental rights
  at work.
• Social actors want to participate in the process
• More TC is needed

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Subregional Conclusions

• CAN 2004 commitment to eliminate child labour
• CARICOM. New debates on labour administration
• MERCOSUR employment forum
• NAFTA discussions provide new opportunities
• SICA continues work at presidential summit

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Points to be kept in mind

• There are few steps forward
• LMs need strengthening
• Some integration processes need to improve their
  legal references
• Linkage among the social actors
• More sharing of subregional experience and
  information is needed

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Suggestions

• National legislation needs improving
• Enforcement mechanisms need improving
• Social actors should play an active part
• Technical cooperation should be improved and
  designed appropriately
• SMBs should be included in the process
• Employment generation