On December 5, 2007, the GUFs, ORIT-ITUC, ILO regional office and Bureau for workers' activities (ILO-ACTRAV) met in Panama. The event was organized jointly by the BWI and UNI-AMERICA NETWORK. The BWI was represented by Carlos Salguero, regional representative for Latin America and Caribbean and Demetrio Solís, coordinating the project aiming at reinforcing the GUFs in the region.

The event looked into possible coordination and lines of action through applicable agreements in 2008. Among the other issues discussed, the economic sectors, the implications for the world of work, the Latin-American network on multinationals and the working group ORIT/GUfs on MNCs. In addition, all participants decided on a campaign focusing on the promotion and defense of trade union freedom in the continent. The campaign will be launched in March 2008.

The meeting also discussed trade union unity referring to the new regional trade union confederation to be founded in March 2008 in Panama, the actions and policies of the GUFs in the region, as well as the promotion of decent work.

The basic agreements include the following on their joint agenda:

promotion of social security

subcontracting

setting up of a Web page for the GUFs by the coordinator

policies and actions on MNCs

campaign for the promotion of freedom of association

need to elaborate a format or a guide on complaints and violations of trade union rights.

Carlos Salguero signed the regional agreement of co-operation with the ILO and ACTRAV regional office in order to fight against forced labour in our sectors. The agreement was welcomed by the other GUFs.

For the Agreement in Spanish language, click on Related Information.
Related information