Lima – Claudia Coenjaerts, Regional Director a.i. of the ILO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, based in Lima, stresses in her year-end message that in 2023 "Only through dialogue will we be able to pursue goals that are key for present and future societies, such as the creation of decent jobs, the just transition to a more sustainable world, and an overarching goal that encompasses all our efforts, that of social justice.".


This is the full text of the message:

From the ILO Office for Latin America and the Caribbean we want to wish you happy holidays at the end of this year 2022, and at the same time the best wishes for the new year of 2023.

These are challenging and complex times for the region. The recovery of employment is still incomplete and uneven. COVID-19 is still present and this is a cause for concern.

We are also affected by other crises. That includes the aftermath of the war, inflation, and very slow economic growth.

In many countries, unemployment rates have already returned to pre-pandemic levels, but informality is persistent and inflation has an impact on wages.

To face these challenging times, strategies that generate growth and formal employment are needed. How can this be achieved?

At the ILO we trust in the power of social dialogue. Governments and workers' and employers' organizations from 187 member states participate in our Organization.

At the end of this year, we call on all our partners to strengthen their efforts to overcome the crisis through dialogue.

Only through dialogue will we be able to pursue goals that are key for present and future societies, such as:

• the creation of decent jobs
• the just transition to a more sustainable world
• and an overarching goal that encompasses all our efforts, that of social justice.

Again, we wish you happy holidays and a good year 2023.

Thank you.