Since 1919 Cuba is a member of International Labor Organization (ILO) and at present, leads the Governmental Group of Latin America job and the example in the treatment of the workers as protagonists of development, and for this purpose, it uses several tools, among them the system of measurement and advance of productivity at work (Simapro).
This is the goal of the visit held by the delegation of ILO headed by Elizabeth Tinoco, regional director of the ILO Office for Latin America and the Caribbean where they talked about the advances in the economic model updating process.
The director accepted an exclusive interview to Trabajadores Newspaper.
“Four of every 10 people in the region are needed of social protection. Within this wide concept social security matters and that of the population aging mark the ways where we are going through. The organization promotes policies and assists governments from Latin America and the Caribbean, always respecting the differences of each nation. The real dilemma is who pays the pensions and at the same time, how to balance the aging process,”Tinoco said.
Among the examples of the actions carried out, the official said they collaborate with the government of Chile in the foundation of a special commission to review the pensions’ system and make adjustments to give a wider cover and sustainability.
“Cuba is undoubtedly a patter to follow because it has a structure that had helped a lasting and extended process. The main challenge is that all the countries develop a system of social protection and manage to extend it until the people retire,” the director stressed.
Salary breach between men and women is still a topic without a happy ending in the continent and the ILO is not alien to it; in the dialogue with Elizabeth we knew that for years they have worked to eradicate that phenomenon. Recent studies have revealed that at present there is a disadvantage of the 30 percent between the incomes for women in relation to men.
But the difference is not only in this sense, but also in the working conditions, the quantity of hours of the employment and the possibilities of training. In the region, women have more years of education compared to men; however, their labor inclusion is conditioned by the conciliation work-family, the reluctances called “glass roof” that hamper the professional growth of women due to cultural prejudices, the representative said.
Minors are also in the ILO’s target. Last October they had a Latin American initiative together with 25 countries to be free of children work, to make a warn call on that situation. Nevertheless, Tonoco noted, it is important to recognize this area has advanced the most worldwide, what does not exclude there is a significant number of children working and being exploited yet.
When we asked her for Cuba she stressed it is a reference in the labor rights and that ILO feels as part of the great changes in the productive processes, where workers are the first step of development. “It is evident a society that is renewing and not only physically, but also in the speeches and the best observations and critics, the regional director finally said.
