Los empleadores del Caribe refuerzan la cooperación regional y mundial

En mayo, los miembros de la OIE del Caribe llevaron la voz de las empresas a la Cumbre de Naciones Unidas para los Pequeños Estados Insulares en Desarrollo y reforzaron la cohesión regional entre las organizaciones empresariales (en inglés).

Successful enterprises are central to any strategy aimed at creating employment and enhancing living standards. This was the central theme for IOE members from the Caribbean Region who gathered in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, from 24 May to 27 May 2024.

As shared in our previous communication, employers renewed their regional engagement, strengthened global partnerships, and also submitted 7 key points for SIDSto complement the implementation of the intergovernmental Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for Small Island Developing States (ABAS), which will guide engagement for the next ten years. Employers raised the concern that the ABAS initiative falls short on emphasising the importance of boosting an enabling economic environment, promoting SME development, and supporting decent job creation.

IOE calls on all stakeholders to accelerate the ABAS and build upon existing SIDS agendas, including the SAMOA Pathway (2014); Mauritius Strategy (2004); and Barbados Programme of Action (1994).

On 25 May, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) hosted a regional employers’ meeting in partnership with the Caribbean Employers Confederation (CEC) and the Antigua & Barbuda Employers’ Federation (ABEF). Ms Sanda Ojiambo, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and CEO of the Global Compact, and Mr Dennis Zulu, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Jamaica, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos, and the Cayman Islands, joined employers during the regional meeting and highlighted the key role that employers’ organisations and private sector play in sustainable development.

On 26 May 2024, employers were a crucial part of the UN SIDS Global Business Network Forum, where Mr Wayne Chen, President of the Jamaica Employers’ Federation, highlighted the importance of crafting an enabling business environment and of engaging employers’ and business organisations. 

Led by Ruben McSween, President of the CEC and Director at the Employers Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago,  IOE, ABEF and CEC also hosted a high-level lunchtime event on 26 May, where Ms Rebeca Grynspan, the Secretary-General of United Nations Trade & Development (UNCTAD) and Mr Joni Musabayana, ILO Country Director for the Caribbean, respectively, highlighted the role of “Trade, Business, and Small Islands” and the role of the ILO in accelerating robust partnerships between governments, businesses, and communities.

Finally, on 27 May 2024, the IOE delegation hosted an official side event session during the SIDS4 Summit on Fostering Resilient Economies in SIDS: the Role of the Private Sector in Job Creation which was led by Ms Sheena Mayers-Granville, First Vice-President of the Caribbean Employers’ Confederation and Executive Director of the Barbados Employer Confederation. The dialogue conclusively highlighted the unique economic and policy challenges faced by SIDS, and identified best practices for growth, job creation and skills, especially as it relates to reinforcing economic resilience and sustainable development.

We thank Ms Louisa Norris, Vice-President of ABEF and Ms J Arlene Martin, Executive Secretary at ABEF for their excellent hospitality.

This event benefitted from the financial support of the European Union.