The Inter-American Conference of the Ministries of Labor (IACML) is the oldest sectoral conference of the Organization of American States (OAS). In fact, since 1963 the Ministries of Labor of the hemisphere gather periodically in this Conference, which is considered as the main forum in the Hemisphere for discussion and decision-making regarding policy priorities and actions on labor issues.
The IACML has created two
Working Groups to deepen the analysis of the Conference's priority themes, to spread information and pertinent studies, and to follow up hemispheric initiatives.
The most recent meeting, the XVII IACML , took place in El
Salvador on October, 2011 under the theme “Advancing economic and social
recovery with sustainable development, decent work and social inclusion”.
Therefore, the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare of El Salvador is currently the Chair Pro Tempore of the XVII IACML.
The XVII Conference will be held in 2013.
The IACML works under the leadership of the troika, conformed by the past, present and future Chairs of the Conference, with the aim to ensure continuity and coherence in its activities. The troika is currently composed by the following authorities:
• Minister of Labor. Employment and Social Security of
Argentina (Past, Chair of the XVI IACML – 2009)
• Minister of Labor and Social Welfare of El
Salvador (Current, Chair of the XVIi IACML – 2011)
• Minister of Labor of Colombia (Future, Chair of the XVIII IACML
– 2013 to be confirmed)
To fulfill the mandates of the IACML, the Technical Secretariat (OAS) works in close coordination with other international organizations, especially with the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
