I Summit of the Americas

Miami, Florida, december 9 -11, 1994

From the first Summit of the Americas in 1994, the hemisphere's Heads of State and Government have placed special emphasis on the full participation of each segment of society in the economic life of a country. They have focused in particular on strategies that promote social integration, productive employment, and the eradication of poverty. The Plan of Action from the first Summit of the Americas presents the following points with respect to the labor situation.

• The guarantee of protection for the human rights of all migrant workers and their families.
  
• The assurance of a greater effort to monitor and promote the rights of workers as defined in the pertinent international agreements
  
• The promotion, with the help of international financial institutions and the private sector, of professional training for workers as well as adult education. The training and education given should be relevant to the needs of the market and employers.
  
• The adoption of appropriate measures to improve opportunities for women. These include the possibility of earning income from professions beyond those traditionally considered to the be the realm of females, achieving economic self-sufficiency, and facilitating both the access of women to the labor market at all levels and to systems of social security, systems of credit, and the acquisition of real estate.

Furthermore, at the first Summit of the Americas, micro-enterprises and small businesses were recognized as generating a large percentage of the employment of poor people, particularly women. It was further concurred that such small enterprises constitute a considerable proportion of the GDP of counties in the hemisphere. Strong support for micro and small businesses is one of the key elements for sustainable and equitable development in the region.

 

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