By Martín Padulla A new World Employment Conference has gone by. Once again I had the privilege to share the ...
By Martín Padulla
A new World Employment Conference has gone by. Once again I had the privilege to share the employment, economic and social reality with experts from different countries around the world. These were days of learning and reflecting.
The message, deeply sustained on evidence, was clear: economic growth cannot be stimulated without systematic and practical efforts to modernise labour markets.
We were welcomed by Rome, maybe the most symbolic European city for Latin Americans. Perhaps it was the way in which we identify the origins of our culture with this city what contributed to the strong feeling we experienced that it is possible to work to modernize our labour markets.
Italy is currently living a real revolution focused on the people. The rest of Europe is watching with attention a labour reform suited for the reality of the 21st century, which is the result of an effective and systematic social dialogue, and that predicts a promising future for this country. Listening to the Italian trade unionist, Gigi Peteni, talking about the importance of representing 21st century workers was a token of maturity and adaptation to change that was quite comforting.
This World Employment Conference in particular displayed strong and clear voices such as ILO, IOE, OECD, trade unionists and members of the European Parliament, giving a positive opinion of the contribution properly regulated private employment services make to economic and social progress. Once again, countries from all around the world were urged to ratify ILO’s Convention no. 181 on Private Employment Agencies.
A panel debate on the Articulation of Public and Private employment services was rather conclusive when pointing out the growing interest governments are showing in promoting these joint efforts that have managed to provide more a better jobs for lots of people in many countries. Peter Hartz, the key man in the Hartz Reforms that modernised the German labour market, was quite precise when stating the importance of knowing the skills’ demand and develop training based on demand. Private employment agencies can make invaluable contributions during these sort of transitions.
The Director of Employment of OECD, Stefano Scarpetta, said that private employment services have the capacity of reducing the talent gap between supply and demand. Moreover, he assured that Latin America can become a main source of talent if the correct steps are followed.
We are facing a major turning point. Governments, Businessmen and Workers of our region must take note of this, do a correct and deep reading of this historical moment and work accordingly.
In Latin America there still are unjustified restrictions on legal and formal modes of flexible decent work. Meanwhile, undeclared work remains at scandalous high levels, ravaging youth employment. Millions of youngsters in our region are excluded from the system and they lack the chance of assuring the well-being of their families.
Each of our countries must start moving down the road towards labour markets’ modernization, promoting non-traditional forms of decent work, tackling informality and enhancing skills’ training based on demand.
It is time to introduce reforms in our labour markets targeted to create formal work with a variety of contracts that protect workers’ rights.
It does not seem to be so complex to achieve this. We just need to deepen social dialogue, providing intelligence and knowledge, leaving aside ideological positions or particular interests that do not contribute to social and economic progress for our citizens.
About Martin Padulla
Managing Director of staffingamericalatina. Martin Padulla is Sociologist (USAL), MBA (UCA) and labour markets expert. He published “Flexible Work in South America” and “Regulatory framework for private employment agencies in Latin America” two books about the new realities of work in Latin America.
mpadulla@staffingamericalatina.com
About staffingamericalatina
It is the unique independent digital media specialized in Latin American´s labour markets.
Produce and spread contents, researches and developments about issues such us Employability, Youth Employment, Training for Employment, Decent Work, Private Employment Agencies, Active policies for employment, Teleworking, Public and private actions for the creation of decent work, Green Jobs and Corporate Social Responsibility.
It is the meeting point for companies, providers, candidates, service´s companies, academics and independent professionals of Latin America.
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