Unions Express a Common Perspective for Latin America and the Caribbean Towards a New Social Contract

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SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA (ILO News) – Costa Rica hosts the Conference on "The New Social Contract: A valuable opportunity to explore a union perspective for Latin America and the Caribbean" on June 26 and 27 in San José, bringing together representatives from the trade union centers of Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Peru, Panama, and Paraguay. Leaders and technical specialists from the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) also participate, organizations that have been following the construction of the global New Social Contract.

The Conference is organized by the Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV), the main link between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the world of labour through one of its constituents: trade union organizations. The goal of this meeting is to support unions in defining and articulating proposals towards a new social contract in their countries and the region. It is also an opportunity to evaluate the participation of the trade union movement in the 2030 Agenda and its continuous participation in the multilateral system to shape public policies to renew the social contract, through initiatives such as the Global Coalition for Social Justice.

"A new social contract is essential to address the social inequalities generated by the multiple crises of the current development model, promoting greater equity, labor protection, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, civic participation, and training, access, and social protection in the digital era," said Maria Helena ANDRE, director of the ILO-ACTRAV.

Although the Conference focuses on workers' organizations, employer representatives (UCCAEP) and the government (Ministry of Labor of Costa Rica) have also been invited as panelists, as well as guest specialists and experts from academia, international organizations, the ILO itself, and the ACTRAV Department, to address different topics at the Conference and contrast the different proposals and perspectives of all social actors in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

A New Social Contract

The concept of a "new social contract" arises as a framework for rethinking the relationships between the State and its people. This new contract aims to foster progress and social justice, ensure systematic inclusion in all dimensions of social and economic life, and provide our economies and societies with the necessary agility to adapt to a world experiencing rapid and profound changes.

On this basis, any future social contract must recognize the decisive role of the labour market, particularly decent work, ensuring that employment priorities are aligned with economic, social, and environmental priorities. This ensures that everyone can benefit from economic development through decent work, social protection, and a fair share of the wealth they help create, regardless of the type of work or their employment situation. It calls for a more inclusive and equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth and a strengthening of social dialogue and collective bargaining as means to achieve this.

The new social contract also recognizes the need for a just transition towards a more sustainable economy, driven by the need to mitigate the negative impact of climate change. This transition can create millions of new jobs in sectors such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable agriculture, but only if it is done in the context of a just transition that ensures workers are not left behind by the profound transformations the required by the economy.

Unions, as the largest organization in the world by membership and a crucial constituent of the International Labour Organization (ILO), have always fought against inequalities and advocated for peace, defending human and labor rights and dignity for all. Thus, in the pursuit of a new social contract centered on people, workers' organizations play a central role in adapting and designing a renewed social contract and determining the form it should take, in order to address the challenges faced by workers in the region and around the world.

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More information: Amanda Villatoro, Desk Officer for the Americas region 

                                  villatoro@ilo.org 

1. Climate Change and Sustainability: The current development model has contributed to climate change and environmental degradation, which disproportionately affects the most vulnerable communities. A new social contract can integrate sustainability principles and promote more equitable and environmentally respectful development.