Download labor informality from 56 to 50 %, increase inspections in companies, eradicate child labor, promote employment, automate processes and continue promoting reforms to Labor Code and al Social Security Systemare among the main goals of the Minister of Labor, Eddy Olivares.
By participating in the weekly lunch of the Corripio Communications Group, Olivares considered that the formalization of employment is not just a requirement of the International Labor Organization (ILO) is a way to guarantee the rights of workers, such as access to social security for them and their families.
In addition, informality implies “an indecent work” because workers can be lower pay, harassment and violations of health standards, social security, among others. “Informality does not only the worker, but his whole family,” Olivares said after indicating that his reduction is a government’s commitment and that it is proposed to take it to 50% in two or three years.
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In the Olivares meeting he was accompanied by Marie Laure Aristyvice minister of jobs, Edward GuzmánExecutive Director of the National Social Security Council, Juan Ramón VenturaLabor Affairs and Inspectorate Advisor, Yuri Ruiz VillalonaDirector of Inspectoría and Aurelio Henríquez, Director of Communications.
Few inspectors
Currently the Ministry of Labor only has 80 inspectors to supervise 127,000 productive units. According to the minister they should have 400.
The current amount is equivalent to 9,600 workers for each inspectorVentura said, so they are insufficient to ensure the safety and health conditions of companies.
Olivares said that labor inspections are fundamental to guarantee rights and improve services, so with the amount they have “there is no possibility of effective inspection.”
He explained that they work to reach the ideal number, incorporating young lawyers and women. Of these, at least 25 will be dedicated exclusively to the sugar sector and another 50 in the construction sector.
In the latter case, he said they already talked to the construction association to ensure that no worker is in a work without adequate protection teams.
“We are committed to each inspection rigorously complying with the protocols of the OInternational Labor Group (ILO). This will ensure that the processes are unquestionable and fair to all the actors involved, ”said Olivares.
Employment promotion
Olivares indicated that youth employment is another great priority for the impact it has on that segment. “When a young man starts working, he begins to travel a safer path. A young man who works is very difficult to be recruited by actors from the under world and crime,” said Olivares.
He pointed out that among the initiatives to promote employment is “RD works”, which has the support of the Inter -American Development Bank (IDB), which was in the process of arrival at the Ministry was in process and that he instructed to continue his impulse. “Our goal is that those who manage to insert themselves in the labor market do so in formal conditions, with full knowledge of their rights and duties,” said the Minister of Labor.
Child labor
Regarding child labor, Ventura reported since a series of measures have been applied for more than 20 years and the figure has gone down 436,000 children which was in 2000 to about 296,000 in 2022.
In this regard, Olivares stressed that it is a sensitive and equally priority issue, so he has commitment to eradicate him. “We have a firm commitment that, when we leave this management, a single boy or girl is not working in the country when I should be studying and living their childhood. It is an unnegotiable principle,” he said.
“The work does not do the happy child,” said Ventura, stressing that in the formal sector there is no child labor.
Improve services
Olivares also indicated that they work in the development of an application that will allow companies and workers to communicate more easily with the ministry and that they can access services virtually.
