- OAS brings together the nations of the Western Hemisphere to strengthen cooperation on democratic values, defend common interests and confront shared problems such as poverty, terrorism, illegal drugs and corruption. It is made up of 35 member states: the independent nations of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The government of Cuba, a member state, has been suspended from participation since 1962; thus only 34 countries participate actively
- IACML is a meeting of the Western Hemisphere's Labor Ministers held about every two years under the auspices of the OAS to promote hemispheric cooperation on labor issues. The Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Labour and Small and Micro Enterprise Development is chair pro tempore of the XV IACML. Argentina will follow as the chair pro tempore when they host the next labor ministerial in 2009.
- The IACML responds to the labor mandates agreed to by President Bush and other heads of state in the Summit of the Americas process. Deputy Under Secretary Ponticelli led the U.S. delegation to the XV IACML, hosted by Trinidad and Tobago in September 2007.
- The Plan of Action of Mexico, endorsed by Labor Ministers in 2005, provides for the continued examination of the labor dimensions of free trade agreements and regional integration processes within the IACML Working Group 1. The U.S. vice-chairs the IACML Working Group 2, which focuses on strengthening the capacities of Labor Ministries to respond to the challenges of promoting decent work in the context of globalization, with an emphasis on the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
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