Brasília – The most recent prognosis forecasts that in 2010 there should be recoveries of the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean – with growth of around 4.1% a year. But the International Labour Organisation (ILO) warns that, for equally positive scenery in the market in the region, it is necessary for decent employment and labour to be in the centre of economic policies.
The 2009 Work Panorama, disclosed today (11) by the organisation, points out that the labour market in Latin America and the Caribbean have been recovering, but that the speed of this process should depend on the rhythm of economic growth. The forecasts presented by the ILO for the region are “carefully optimistic” and suggest that unemployment should start falling gradually in 2010, reaching around 8.2% of total labour.
But this scenery forecasts that recovery of economic activity should generate slight expansion in work demand. The expectation is for the urban rate of employment, for example, to drop from 8.4% in 2009 to 8.2% this year. Still, the total of unemployed workers should remain at around 18 million people.
The report says that this is the crisis of lack of employment, of decent work and of poverty and indigence, and must be faced with greater determination than ever, while pointing out that it is not possible to leave the crisis following the same economic policies that produced it.
A macroeconomic policy with minimum inflation or lack of fiscal deficits, according to the study, is considered a necessary condition, but not enough to solve the problems of employment and decent work. An inversion that stimulates productivity, competitiveness, training, economic and social profitability by companies and equality and development is necessary.
The ILO defends that, together with the recovery of the economy, social players and government should adopt a firm engagement to increase productivity and repeat growth, so as to guarantee recovery and improvement of the buying power of workers.
The study also calls for special attention to youths due to the great deficit in decent employment in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as due to an effort turned to gender equality and to better work conditions for women. Finally, the research covers the eradication of infant labour and of forced labour, as well as all forms of discrimination.
*Translated by Mark Ament
