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- Gilbert F. Houngbo met with representatives of the government, employers and workers to advance tripartite cooperation ahead of the upcoming International Labour Conference.
MONTEVIDEO, (ILO News) – Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo, highlighted the strong tradition of social dialogue in Uruguay during an official visit to the country on 4–5 May, ahead of the upcoming International Labour Conference. Houngbo met with representatives of government, employers and workers, underscoring the importance of tripartism in building consensus and advancing productive employment and decent work.
“Social dialogue in Uruguay stands out for the quality of its exchanges, the mutual respect among the parties, and the autonomy of its actors. It is a relevant international example of how tripartism contributes to more just and inclusive societies,” the director-general said. He noted that ongoing discussions among social partners reflect diverse perspectives, reinforcing the role of dialogue as a key mechanism for addressing current challenges.
Houngbo held meetings with the president of the Republic, Yamandú Orsi; the minister of foreign affairs, Mario Lubetkin; and the minister of labour and social security, Juan Castillo. He also met with the vice-president, Carolina Cosse, as well as representatives of employers’ organisations, including the National Chamber of Commerce and Services (CNCS) and the Chamber of Industries of Uruguay (CIU), and the trade union movement, led by PIT-CNT.
Following the meeting with the president, minister Castillo highlighted that the director-general highly valued “the level of dialogue, relations and mutual respect” between workers and employers.
The meetings provided an opportunity to exchange views on shared priorities, including employment, sustainable enterprises, social protection and the governance of the world of work. Discussions also covered current policy debates and labour market challenges, such as population ageing, strengthening labour market participation of underrepresented groups, and advancing policies on skills development, productivity and the transition to more sustainable economies.
Issues related to working time and labour market reforms were also discussed, underscoring the need for continued dialogue to reach balanced and sustainable solutions.
During his mission, Houngbo visited the ILO’s Inter-American Centre for Knowledge Development in Vocational Training (CINTERFOR) and concluded his visit with a meeting with the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA), Rafael Freire.
The visit took place at a significant moment for Uruguay. The minister of labour and social security, Juan Castillo, is currently the sole candidate proposed by the ILO Government Group to chair the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference, to be held in Geneva in June.
The visit reaffirmed Uruguay’s role as a strategic partner of the ILO in the region and provided an opportunity to further strengthen technical cooperation in key areas of decent work.