The 20th American Regional Meeting (AmRM) of the International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded on 3 October with the adoption of the Punta Cana Declaration, a tripartite commitment to democracy, peace, social justice, and decent work as central pillars for a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient future of work in the Americas.
At the closing session, government, employer and worker representatives endorsed the Declaration, which outlines the region's priorities for action in response to the profound transformations affecting the world of work - from climate change and technological acceleration to persistent informality, inequality, and the weakening of democratic institutions.
"This meeting has shown that democracy, peace, social dialogue and decent work are not just ideals-they are the building blocks of sustainable development and lasting social justice," said ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo. "The Punta Cana Declaration will guide our shared work for years to come."
Anchored in the ILO Centenary Declaration and the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work as amended in 2022, the Punta Cana Declaration sets out regional priorities for the ILO and its constituents, in line with the ILO's Strategic Plan for 2026-2029. These include: job creation, social protection, and sustainable development; strengthening democratic institutions, respect for fundamentals rights and social dialogue; promotion of sustainable enterprises, just transition toward resilient societies; and strategies for public policies for the improvement of skills and vocational training.
Delegates also called for action to advance gender equality, eradicate violence and harassment in the workplace, strengthen wage policies-including the operationalization of living wages-and implement national care policies that promote decent work and gender equity.
The Declaration includes a set of non-exhaustive guidelines to inform the ILO's regional implementation plan. These include advancing the transition from informal to formal employment, promoting fiscal investment policies and productivity ecosystems for decent work, strengthening technical and vocational training frameworks, and promoting safe, orderly, and regular labour migration policies.
It also calls for a region free of child labour, promoting gender equality, inclusion and diversity in the workplace, fostering enabling environments for sustainable enterprises-particularly MSMEs, and taking advantage of the digital transformations within a decent work approach.. It emphasizes the importance of strengthening the capacities of employers' and workers' organizations as vital pillars of democratic participation and social resilience. These priorities are intended to guide ILO tripartite constituents' action in the region, while allowing for the inclusion of additional relevant measures that contribute to the Declaration's overarching goals.
The Declaration includes a call to the ILO to develop a regional implementation plan in consultation with constituents, with clear goals aligned with the priorities of the Declaration, to be presented to the ILO Governing Body in 2026.
Director-General Houngbo thanked the Government of the Dominican Republic for hosting the AmRM and praised delegates for their strong spirit of tripartite cooperation.
"The energy and consensus we've seen this week reflect the urgency-and the opportunity-of this moment. With tripartism and solidarity, we can deliver results that make a real difference in people's lives," he said.
During the closing ceremony, delegates expressed their appreciation to the Government and people of the Dominican Republic for their warm hospitality and for successfully hosting the 20th American Regional Meeting.
The ILO is the United Nations agency for the world of work. The 20th AmRM brought together over 300 participants-including ministers, senior officials, and leaders of workers' and employers' organizations-from across the Americas.
Recordings of the Meeting are available for replay on ILO Live.
