|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
XIV Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor
Mexico City, Mexico
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Before I begin my remarks, let me thank all the governments and individuals
from our neighbors to the South and to the North, who offered and provided
assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Your generosity and concern
are greatly appreciated.
This meeting, which is focused on creating economic opportunity for workers,
is both timely and important. Our goal is the same: to create prosperity
and increasing standards of living that are shared by all. And President
George W. Bush believes that the best way to do this is through sound economic
policies that foster enterprise, entrepreneurship and the creation of new
jobs.
By following this model, the United States has sustained growth and created
millions of new jobs despite some of the most difficult economic and political
challenges in recent history. Our nation's unemployment rate is 4.9 percent—one
of the lowest in the world. Economic growth in the first half of 2005 averaged
about 3.6 percent. The United States has enjoyed 27 consecutive months of
payroll expansion, adding 4.2 million net new jobs to the economy since May
2003. In 2005, our economy has created an average of 194,000 net new jobs
per month, exceeding predictions.
In fact, more Americans are working than ever before. Even the terrible
devastation of Hurricane Katrina will not displace the United States from
its basic path of economic growth. That's due, in no small part, to this
Administration's economic policies, which have focused on eliminating the
excessive regulation, over taxation and abusive litigation that stifle private-sector
growth and job creation.
The United States believes strongly that Labor Ministries can play a role
in encouraging the conditions for growth and job creation. First, Labor Ministries
can help workers gain the skills they need to access new opportunities. Many
private-sector employers in the United States provide job training and apprenticeship
programs for workers. But the U.S. Department of Labor also invests in training
and education programs for workers. We train workers with relevant skills
that are in demand in the workplace—real skills for real jobs. These programs
also link workers with employers who have real jobs to offer.
Helping workers update their skills is especially important in the U.S.
economy because our workforce is so mobile. The average American will have
had 9 jobs by the time he or she is 34 years old because of better economic
opportunities. Every year, about one third of our entire workforce of 149
million turns over to pursue new opportunities. That's a tribute to the tremendous
dynamism of our workforce and our economy.
Another major responsibility of Labor Ministries is worker protections.
In this area, the U.S. Department of Labor has developed innovative approaches
to better protect workers. We recognize that there is no amount of resources
available to inspect every workplace in America for labor law violations.
So, the Department targets enforcement on industries with high rates of
injuries, fatalities and other problems. In addition, there is an Enhanced
Enforcement Program, which targets enforcement on employers
with poor safety records who continually place their workers at risk.
The third part of our strategy to better protect workers is a new program
called “Compliance Assistance.” This is an aggressive
outreach program to help educate workers and employers about their rights
and responsibilities. This 3-prong strategy has helped reduce worker injuries
and fatalities to record lows. And it has helped secure record collections
of back wages and benefits for workers, especially vulnerable immigrants.
Third, Labor Ministries can help encourage transparency and accountability
in public, private and non-profit institutions. Maintaining public trust
in public and private institutions is essential in a democratic society.
The U.S. Department of Labor requires transparency and accountability in
the labor organizations and private health and benefit plans that it regulates,
so that workers are informed about their rights.
In summary, the United States believes that Labor Ministries have an important
role to play in promoting the conditions for economic growth. Promoting a
balance between strong worker protections and a flexible and adaptable workforce
can benefit the workers of every nation. This strategy also encourages foreign
investment that creates jobs and is a tremendous incentive for domestic investment,
as well.
The United States welcomes the great diversity in the Americas and recognizes
that all nations and cultures are unique. Each country bears responsibility
for its own economic progress through good governance, sound policies and
the rule of law. As we prepare for the Summit of the Americas, I hope you
will join me in examining the principles I have discussed today. And I look
forward to continuing to work together to create growth and brighter futures
for the working men and women of the Americas.
_______________________________________________________________
| 
