The Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, concluded his first official visit to Colombia after speaking at the opening session of the XXII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) of the Organization of American States (OAS), on October 23, 2024, in Bogotá, under the leadership of the Ministry of Labor of Colombia.
As part of his visit, Houngbo met with the Minister of Labor of Colombia, Gloria Inés Ramírez, as well as with all representatives of workers’ organizations (CUT, CGT and CTC) and employers’ organizations (ANDI). During these meetings, the Director General emphasized the importance of institutional and effective tripartite consultations between all these actors. These consultations are not optional, but a requirement based on International Labor Standards.
“I encourage all parties to strengthen trust and use tripartite social dialogue as an effective means to address the challenges facing Colombia. Genuine tripartite discussions, in which the Government, representatives of workers and employers can express their views, it may take time to bear fruit,” Houngbo said. “Social dialogue cannot be a box-ticking exercise, it requires patience and commitment.”
In addition to his national meetings, the Director General also engaged in discussions with the OAS Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE) and the OAS Business Commission for Technical Advisory on Labor Matters (CEATAL), thus reinforcing the ILO’s interest in effective social dialogue.
Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor in Colombia.
At the opening of the XXII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (CIMT), the Director General emphasized the pressing need for social justice, productive employment and decent work in the Americas. Houngbo stressed that the region faces important challenges, such as unemployment, widespread informality and deepening inequalities, which threaten social cohesion. To address these issues, the Director-General called for renewed attention on formal job creation, fostering inclusive economic growth and ensuring that technological advances and the green economy benefit everyone. Central to these efforts is the Global Coalition for Social Justice, an initiative aimed at building a new social contract and promoting decent work.
The Director-General further stressed that achieving social justice requires strong governance, inclusive social dialogue and a commitment to eliminating inequalities and discrimination. He highlighted the importance of creating a fair world of work through the active participation of worker and employer organizations, strong labor standards and a proactive approach to managing transitions in a rapidly changing labor market. The speech concluded with a call to reaffirm shared values such as democracy, human rights and non-discrimination to build a more inclusive and sustainable future of work for the region.
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