Strengthening Labor Systems in Central America: Cumple y Gana

Improving Economic Opportunity and Income Security for Workers

Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic

October  2003 – October  2008

Total: $15,240,000
               $6,750,000 (fy2003)
               $2,000,000 (fy2004)
               $6,490,000 (fy2005)

• The need to strengthen effective enforcement of labor laws.

• The need to increase knowledge among employers and workers regarding national labor laws.

• The need for the Ministries of Labor to receive sufficient resources from their national budgets to foster improved labor relations.

• The need to reduce gender discrimination in the workplace

• Ministries of Labor

• Workers

• Employers

(phase 1 will target mainly capitol cities and phase 2 will extend the project to additional regions in each country)

• Increase understanding of target audience in each country about national labor laws and norms, including particular emphasis on gender discrimination in the maquila sector.

• More effective and reliable Labor Ministry Inspection Systems to enforce labor laws, including particular emphasis on gender discrimination.

• Increase and improved use of mediation and conciliaton to solve labor conflicts.

• The development of a regional web-based outreach tool called leylaboral.com.

• Reactivating or establishing electronic case management systems for the inspection and mediation systems of the Ministry of Labor.

• An extensive Public Awareness program in each country will use media, non-governmental organizations and other institutions to educate both employer and employees on their obligations and rights under current labor legislation.   

• Strengthened Ministry of Labor inspection services through training and improved tools for the management of labor violation cases.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms and services will be strengthened to increase the number of cases settled by mutual agreement via training provided to Ministry of Labor Staff and the tripartite partners.

• Foundation for Peace and Democracy

• ABT Associates

Office of Trade and Labor Affairs
Division of Trade Agreement Administration and Technical cooperation
(202) 693-4900

July 11, 2007