Tomada put into action the “Third Decent Work Country Programme

Press Bulletin
Dirección de Prensa y Comunicaciones
Leandro N. Alem 650, piso 11. C1001AA0
Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
Tel.: (011) 4310-6110/6114 Fax: (011) 4310-6107
–
Tomada put into action the “Third Decent Work
Country Programme for the 2012-2015 period”
The Labour minister, Carlos Tomada, headed today the signature of a Memorandum of
Understanding to put into action the “Third Decent Work Country Programme for the 2012-2015
period” in the Argentine Republic, along with the head of the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA),
Daniel Funes de Rioja; the general secretary of the Argentine Republic Building Workers' Union
(UOCRA), Gerardo Martínez; and the ILO Office Director in Argentina, Marcelo Castro Fox.
With regard to the main purposes established in 2003 by the ILO for Argentina, Tomada
maintained that “we had set almost impossible goals and today we have made it possible among
all of us. We are aware that there are still things to be done, but we are working and deepening
policies to achieve it”. The official further emphasized on “the idea of strengthening prevention
relevant to work injuries. We are going to have a new law that is going to provide for the need to
work on prevention”.
In turn, the head of the labour portfolio referred to the responsibility of the Labour Ministry to
promote the decent work concept in public policies. “The National President has shown this, not
only with words but also with policies being carried out. Decent work means reducing undeclared
work, defending employment in times of crisis, and challenging that traditional recipe of making
employment and salaries struggle in order to face a crisis”.
Moreover, Daniel Funes de Rioja expressed his “pride in seeing that Argentina has achieved a
maturity degree in dialogue. The world and Argentina have to put social dialogue into operation.
And this table is doing it”. The official further added that “the ILO deserves Argentina and Argentina
deserves ILO”.
In his speech, Gerardo Martínez declared himself in favour of “maintaining dialogue despite the
debates existing today” and bet on the ILO´s leading role. “We think it has a very important role”,
the union leader said.
Press Bulletin
Dirección de Prensa y Comunicaciones
Leandro N. Alem 650, piso 11. C1001AA0
Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
Tel.: (011) 4310-6110/6114 Fax: (011) 4310-6107
–
Meanwhile, the ILO Office Director in Argentina, Marcelo Castro Fox, highlighted the signature of
the memorandum. “This is an opportunity. There are many countries where not even a single
agreement has been signed and this is the third one here”. He also added that “the new ILO
Director, Guy Ryder, is aware of what is being done in Argentina and that is going to help us in the
future. He told us about the good job that is being done in this country”.
The event, held at the labour portfolio headquarters, was also attended by the Labour secretary,
Noemí Rial; the Employment secretary, Enrique Deibe, and officials from the Ministry of Labour,
Employment and Social Security.
It is worth recalling as a precedent that in October 2003 the National Government included the
2003-2015 Millennium Development Goals for Argentina, comprising “Promoting Decent Labour”
among others.
Thus, by means of the Memorandum being signed, according to the ILO’s mandate, the Argentine
government and the employers’ and workers’ representatives express their decision to implement
the “Third Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Argentina during the 2012-2015 period”
with the ILO cooperation.
The main goals are: reducing precariousness at work, undeclared work and informality by
promoting social protection and employment’s quality and quantity; improving employability and
accessibility conditions; promoting effective compliance of the fundamental rights and principles at
work by paying particular attention to prevention and eradication of child labour and forced labour,
as well as consolidating the social protection coverage extension.