Regional Program on the Dynamics
    of Labor Markets (PMML)

Another area of expertise of the International Center for Sustainable Human Development is applied research and policy discussion in strategic areas such as employability, labor standards, labor conditions, social security, gender and labor democracy.

The PMML carries out seminars trough labor policy discussion, workshops as well as development of leadership skills for trade unions, cooperatives, and employers representatives.  The following projects have been undertaken:

•  Employment Conditions for Women in Central America. This is a project in support of the Women Fora in their quest to improve the quality of employment for women in Central America.  The project was jointly implemented with the Women Fora for the Central American Integration and sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The results of the study have been widely discussed in each country in Central America.  Also, the study has been used as input for the formulation of an agenda for the improvement of the quality of work for women.

•   Social Dialogue Between Employers and Workers Representatives. CIDH elaborated a policy paper to facilitate social dialogue between economic agents. The paper includes proposals to strengthen the relationship between economic growth, employment, and equity. This policy paper is being used as a strategic document in the ongoing discussion to improve, democratize and modernize labor relations in Costa Rica.

This project was sponsored by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Estado de la Nación (UNDP/European Union Project).

•  Labor Union Freedom of association, Collective Bargaining, and Labor Relations in Central America. This study contributes to the strengthening of the system of labor relations as an essential condition for democratic participation and social stability. Some of the issues analized were the process of collective bargaining, effective labor conflict resolution, and labor relations. Research on employer organizations, managerial  teams, trade unions and other forms of workers associations were included.

The project was sponsored by the International Labor Organization (ILO) through its Project “Relacentro”.

•  Multinational Enterprises in Costa Rica toward the New Millenium:  A Social Balance

An analysis of the activities of multinational enterprises in Costa Rica, their impact on the local economy, labor conditions, employment and professional training. The study also looked at the impact that foreign direct investment is having in the economy as a whole. The research had an interdisciplinary character and combined quantitative and qualitative methods for the analysis of the impact of multinational enterprises.  Moreover, key actors such as trade union leaders, entrepreneurs, and government officials were interviewed.  The research was sponsored by ILO-Geneva, Switzerland. (See publication at ILO’s Website)

•  Making real the benefits of democracy by creating jobs: the enterprises` roll   
On request of the Private Sector of the Americas and with the auspice of the O.A.S., a proposal for the generation of more quality employement on the private sector was elaborated. The analysis focused on 3 great subjects: a) the roll of education and technological innovation; b) the roll of transparency and governability; and c) the roll of commerce, infrastructure, investment and development. For each one of those themes, actions were recommended that contribute to the improvement of employee qualifications, the greater creation of quality employement, generation of value chains with more participation of SME's and the deepening of democracy in systems of labor relations.“

•  Inventory on politics and succesful employment programs: Eurosocial Project

This project’s objective is to improve social cohesion in Latin America through an exchange of experiences with Europe in four theme areas:

-  Measurement of Labor Market Indicators

- Analysis of Labor Market Indicators and active employment policies

- Formulation of active employment policies

- Monitoring and evaluation of the impact of policies and programs on labor  markets

In the framework of this initiative, ILO is doing an inventory active employment policies that have succeeded in the past five years in Central America, with particular emphasis in Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua.