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DE RUEHC #0944/01 2461221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011405Z SEP 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 7417/7418
WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 090944 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y  (ADDED SENSITIVE CAPTION) 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT PASS DOL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC ELAB ETRD OVIP PREL
SUBJECT: PREPARATORY MEETING OF THE XVI INTER-AMERICAN 
CONFERNCE OF MINISTERS OF LABOR 
 
REF: NONE 
 
STATE 00090944  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Preparatory Meeting of the Sixteenth 
Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) took 
place in Buenos Aires, Argentina July 22-24.  The U.S. 
Department of Labor (DOL) led the U.S. delegation, which also 
included officials from the Department of State's Bureau of 
Western Hemisphere Affairs and the U.S. Permanent Mission to 
the Organization of American States (OAS). Negotiations on 
the draft Declaration and Plan of Action were generally 
agreeable, though slow-moving and at times intense.  The U.S. 
succeeded in advancing all priorities, and in deleting or 
nuancing text that was problematic.  The group agreed to have 
DOL serve as the candidate for the chair of Working Group 1, 
which examines policy matters.  The Preparatory Meeting was 
preceded by a one day seminar on gender equity.  The Meeting 
of the Sixteenth Inter-American Conference of Ministers of 
Labor will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina October 6-8, 
¶2009. END SUMMARY. 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) Declaration and Plan of Action 
The issues where the U.S. expected the greatest problems -- 
migrant workers and the definition of sustainable enterprises 
-- were resolved in small group negotiations.  The U.S. 
successfully negotiated out language in the draft Declaration 
suggesting: 
- measures by host countries to assist those countries 
experiencing declining remittances; 
- support for welfare-economy production units (NOTE: These 
are undefined entities promoted by Venezuela and has probably 
associated with the operations of seized private property 
that the government has designated as "unproductive" END 
NOTE); 
- a role for governments in legislating the balance of 
work/life responsibilities between men and women; 
- harmonization throughout the region of all government 
policies on labor; and 
- a flow of resources from developed to less developed 
countries. 
The U.S. gained approval for adding "protection of workers' 
rights" to one of the ministerial sub-themes. 
 
Unexpectedly, tensions peaked during negotiations over 
language in the draft Plan of Action, in a debate that pitted 
El Salvador, Chile, the U.S. and Canada, among others, 
against Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua. Venezuela tried, 
unsuccessfully, to add new language implying endorsement of 
worker takeovers of struggling enterprises into the mandate 
of Working Group 1.  A battle of competing points of order 
ensued and ended with language that altered significantly 
Venezuela's original proposal and agreed to by consensus. 
 
¶3. (U) IACML Leadership 
The group proposed to the US delegation that we serve as the 
candidate for the chair of Working Group 1, which examines 
policy matters.  In this capacity, DOL contributes 
significantly to the implementation of the IACML's action 
plan.  Vice-chair candidates include Brazil, El Salvador and 
Guyana.  Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay 
are the candidates to lead candidates for Working Group 2, 
which addresses ministry of labor capacity building.  All 
candidates are expected to be endorsed by consensus at the 
October meeting of ministers. 
 
¶4. (U) Logistical Preparations for the Sixteenth IACML 
Argentina announced October 6 through 8 as the revised dates 
for the Sixteenth Ministerial.  The meeting will be held in 
the San Martin Palace.  Meetings of senior officials below 
ministerial rank, COSATE, and CEATAL will take place the 
morning of October 6, with sessions for ministers beginning 
mid-day. 
 
It was confirmed that Secretary Solis would speak at the 
second plenary session on October 7, "Coordination of 
Policies and Programs for Promoting Employment and Protecting 
Workers Rights: A Guiding Framework in Facing the Crisis." 
Other speakers in this session will be the Ministers of Labor 
from Argentina and Trinidad and Tobago. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Bilateral Cooperation 
 
STATE 00090944  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Argentina's Ministry of Labor expressed interest in pursuing 
active bilateral cooperation with DOL.  U.S. Embassy 
officials confirmed that Argentina also has raised this issue 
in conversations with them. Two areas of interest mentioned 
by Argentina are employment services (One Stop Centers) and 
dispute resolution.  Argentine officials also suggested that 
our countries could cooperate to provide technical capacity 
building to third party countries.  DOL is consulting with 
officials in Argentina's Ministry of Labor regarding options 
for moving forward with bilateral cooperation. 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) G-20 
The U.S. informed Argentine officials that an invitation will 
be extended to International Labor Organization (ILO) 
Director General Juan Somavia to attend the September 2009 
G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, PA.  Argentina suggested that it 
would be interesting for the U.S. to consider hosting a jobs 
conference similar to that held in London prior to the March 
2009 G-20.  The U.S. will take this suggestion into 
consideration. 
 
¶7. (U) Gender 
Officials from the OAS and the ILO spoke to DOL about their 
interest in DOL taking a lead in advancing gender issues in 
the IACML.  DOL agreed to facilitate a dialogue between the 
ILO gender experts and DOL's Women's Bureau. 
 
The delegate from Costa Rica made a special point to 
communicate to DOL that her labor ministry's special unit on 
gender equity had been created as part of the DOL-funded 
Cumple y Gana project.  She highlighted the achievements of 
the unit and thanked DOL for our support. 
 
¶8. (U) Sixteenth IACML 
The theme of the upcoming meeting of Ministers of Labor is 
"Facing the Crisis with Development, Decent Work and Social 
Protection."  Member states chose this theme in view of the 
current economic situation and its impact on employment.  The 
discussions at the meeting will be framed by the following 
topics: the role of the Ministries of Labor in addressing the 
crisis; the coordination of policies and programs for 
promoting employment and the importance of strengthening 
social dialogue and social protection. 
CLINTON