This is the formal start of the Project to Promote Decent Work, implemented by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and financed by the financing agreement signed between the European Union and the Government of Guatemala, through the Ministry of Economy, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Labor.
The Minister of Labor and Social Security, Miriam Roquel, announced that, according to the recent data from the National Continuous Employment and Income Survey (Eneic), More than 12 million people in the country are of working age.
The workforce exceeds 8 million people and, although open unemployment remains at relatively low levels, associated challenges persist. to informality (70%), underemploymentthe territorial gaps, the labor insertion of young people and women and the need to strengthen the relationship between training and employment, the official explained during the launch of the project.
Among other challenges, the document points out average incomes below the minimum wage in broad sectors, gender wage gaps and limited job placement opportunities for young people, women, people with disabilities and returned migrants, in addition to institutional weaknesses and insufficient articulation between the training supply and the demand of the productive sector.
The official explained that tripartism and social dialogue with the worker and employer sectors are important, and considered that the project represents an opportunity to advance in strategic areas for the country. Among these, he mentioned strengthening the implementation of the National Decent Employment Policy, modernizing public employment services, strengthening training for work, protecting labor rights and generating greater opportunities for the population that faces more barriers to access to employment, in addition to strengthening public management and having better planning, monitoring and information instruments.
He mentioned, for example, that the Information System of the Labor Market (SIMEL) will contribute to better organize the available evidence, guide public decisions and accelerate responses that are more relevant to the country’s reality.
“Working conditions, people are also a way to reduce poverty, extreme poverty that is one of the components of child labor,” said Roquel.
The project includes actions for inclusion and equity, guaranteeing the participation of women, young people, rural and indigenous populations, people with disabilities and returned migrants, as well as promoting labor insertion in formal jobs that meet decent work standards, added the minister.
CONTENT FOR SUBSCRIBERS
The main institutional beneficiaries are Mintrab, Mineco, as well as the Ministry of Education (Mineduc) and the National Commission for Decent Employment (Coned), since their technical and coordination capacities will be reinforced to ensure the sustainability of the results. Meanwhile, the beneficiaries will be people in vulnerable situations, businesses and MSMEs.
Eliel Hasson, ILO director for Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic, participated in the launch, adding that the project is also part of the Global Gateway, an initiative of the European Union whose objective is to attract investments from that continent and improve decent work in all supply chains. In addition, he highlighted the importance of emphasizing tripartism and particular support for women.
Another point that the ILO regional director mentioned as important is support for the eradication of child labor, trafficking and forced labor, an aspect that also is framed in the agreement of the European Union with Central America, Therefore, it is essential to advance decent work in supply chains.
The six results sought with the project:
- Strengthening the governance of the National Decent Employment Policy (Pned)
- Modernization and strengthening of public employment services
- Consolidation of the National Job Training System (Sinafol)
- Development of skills and labor insertion of prioritized population
- Effective protection of fundamental principles and rights at work
- Strengthening the productive ecosystem and the social and solidarity economy