18 July, 2008Metalworker unions from Mercosur countries examine the impact of trade liberalisation on industrial production and development and the need for advancing labour and social provisions in trade agreements at a seminar this week.
ARGENTINA: A seminar of the International Metalworkers' Federation on Trade Agreements of Mercosur took place in Buenos Aires on July 16-18, with the participation of affiliates from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
During the seminar a report was presented of an IMF/ILO pilot research project on methods to assess the employment repercussions of trade liberalisation, focussing on sectors of the metalworking industry in Argentina and Brazil. The combined effect of various factors on the number and the quality of jobs was highlighted. The implications for trade union work were discussed as well as prospects for further development of the research project that was carried out with the support of Observatorio Social in Brazil and of Fundaciòn LASOS in Argentina.
A panel composed by representatives of the Argentinian employers, government and trade unions and of the Trade Union Centres of South Cone countries discussed the prospects for productive integration in Mercosur, the impact of trade liberalisation on industrial production and on development in its member countries. The interest of trade unions in advancing in labour and social provisions was reiterated. However it was said that it is indispensable to link workers rights to sustainable development and the creation of stable quality employment.
"Trade unions in Latin America have their labour and social strategy to propose," said Hilda Sanchez of TUCA/ITUC, "but we are not ready to stay in a side room to discuss only of the inclusion of labour clauses. The central issue is the question of production and its linkage with development and decent work". Sanchez contributed a thorough analysis of trade union mobilisation, particularly in Latin America, around trade liberalisation issues that are relevant to workers and stressed the very positive collaboration with the IMF.
The Labour Minister of Argentina, Mr Carlos Tomada, made opening remarks at the seminar and stressed the centrality of work. He pointed at a deficit in the number and quality of jobs and at practices of sub-sub-contracting in the name of competition as the most dangerous enemies of development and poverty reduction. "We have to fight against exploitation and precarisation in the search of cost reduction".
In a separate meeting with him, IMF and TUCA representatives expressed trade union concerns with regard to the Doha Round negotiations. Minister Tomada reaffirmed the priority that the Argentinian Government attaches to development and employment in its negotiating position at the WTO.