OAS LABOR MINISTERIAL HIGHLIGHTS DECENT WORK AS THE CENTER

UNCLAS PORT OF SPAIN 001031 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA and DRL; DOL FOR ILAB AND ETA E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: ELAB SOCI OAS XK XL XM TD SUBJECT: OAS LABOR MINISTERIAL HIGHLIGHTS DECENT WORK AS THE CENTER OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. THE XV INTER-AMERICAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF LABOR (IACML) IN PORT OF SPAIN SEPTEMBER 11-13 PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AND LABOR OBJECTIVES IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TO BE REINFORCED THROUGH ENGAGEMENT ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST AMONG LABOR MINISTERS, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYERS AND TRADE UNIONS. THE MINISTERS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A DECLARATION THAT, INTER ALIA, REAFFIRMS THEIR COMMITMENTS REGARDING THE ILO DECLARATION ON FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND RIGHTS AT WORK, AND THE COMMITMENTS BY HEADS OF STATE IN THE FOURTH SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS TO ERADICATE THE WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR, TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO ELIMINATE FORCED LABOR, AND TO REDUCE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT; RESPONDS TO DECENT WORK CHALLENGES IN THE HEMISPHERE; PROMOTES POLICIES SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON YOUTH; AND AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE CAPACITIES OF MINISTRIES OF LABOR. MINISTERS ALSO ENDORSED A PLAN OF ACTION THAT CONTINUES TWO WORKING GROUPS AND ENCOURAGES THE SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES. BRAZIL CHAIRS, WITH THE UNITED STATES AND GUYANA AS VICE CHAIRS, WORKING GROUP 1, WHICH FOCUSES ON DECENT WORK AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING DEMOCRACY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION. EL SALVADOR CHAIRS, WITH CANADA AND URUGUAY AS VICE CHAIRS, WORKING GROUP 2, WHICH FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIES OF MINISTRIES OF LABOR. MINISTERS ALSO ENDORSED ARGENTINA AS THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE XVI IACML, FOLLOWING T&T. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) THE XV IACML PLENARY INTERVENTIONS IN PORT OF SPAIN BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12TH. THE U.S. DELEGATION, HEADED BY CHARLOTTE M. PONTICELLI, DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF DOL (JANE RICHARDS AND KRISTIN LIPKE),USTR (JERI JENSEN),U.S. MISSION TO THE OAS (MELISSA KOPOLOW),STATE/WHA/EPSC (MIKE PUCCETTI) AND STATE/DRL/ILCSR (GABRIELLA RIGG). IN HER OFFICIAL REMARKS TO THE CONFERENCE, PONTICELLI DISCUSSED THE ROLE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN SUPPORT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION. SHE NOTED THAT SHARING EXPERIENCES IN FORA SUCH AS THE IACML CONTRIBUTES TO IMPROVED LABOR MARKET STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS. REFERENCE TO D/US PONTICELLI'S REMARKS CAN BE FOUND IN PARAGRAPH 3 BELOW. -------------- -------------- CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT WITH AN EMPHASIS ON YOUTH/ DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY PONTICELLI'S REMARKS SIPDIS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) D/US PONTICELLI PROVIDED THE U.S. OFFICIAL INTERVENTION DURING THIS PLENARY SESSION. HER REMARKS UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING A WELL-TRAINED, ADAPTABLE WORKFORCE AND UNLEASHING THE CREATIVITY OF INDIVIDUALS AND A VIBRANT PRIVATE SECTOR AS A FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION. SHE DISCUSSED THE U.S. APPROACH TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND MARKET DRIVEN TRAINING AND CITED EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL DOL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS. SHE STRESSED THAT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IS ROOTED IN ACCESS TO QUALTIY BASIC EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN. WITHIN THAT THEME, PONTICELLI ANNOUNCED DOL PLANS TO AWARD $12.4 MILLION IN GRANTS TO LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN TO REMOVE CHILDREN FROM EXPLOITATIVE WORK AND PROVIDE THEM WITH EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION. PONTICELLI CONCLUDED BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE VALUE OF FORA SUCH AS THE IACML AS A PLATFORM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCES AND BEST PRACTICES THAT CONTRIBUTES TO IMPROVED POLICY AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL OF OUR COUNTRIES. ¶4. (U) MINISTER FRANSISCO MORALES HERNANDEZ OF COSTA RICA PRESENTED A PROGRAM IN HIS COUNTRY FOR ENGAGING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. HE EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF STARTING WITH EXISTING INSTITUTIONS AND CREATING A LINK WITH UNIVERSITIES AND THE NEED TO CREATE A BUSINESS CULTURE. ZARKO COSME LUKSIC SANDOVAL OF CHILE STATED THAT CHILEAN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ENTERING THE LABOR MARKET LATER BECAUSE EDUCATION IS COMPULSORY. CHILE IS WORKING TO FIND WAYS TO CORRECT INEFFICIENCES IN TECHNICAL TRAINING. A PILOT PLAN WAS ESTABLISHED FOR YOUTH TO JOIN THE LABOR MARKET, TRAINING 80,000 PEOPLE. SINCE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT SIGNING CONTRACTS AND THEREFORE DO NOT BENEFIT FROM SOCIAL PROTECTION, THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SUBSIDIZE THE FIRST 24 SALARY PAYMENTS. ¶5. (U) PERMANENT SECRETARY CARSTON SIMMONS OF BARBADOS PRESENTED EFFORTS BY HIS COUNTRY'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TRAINING BOARD TO RESPOND TO BUSINESS DEMANDS. AVENUES INCLUDE PROVIDING CREDIT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PROGRAMS TARGETING YOUTH AND ENCOURAGING YOUTH TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESSES. UNDER SECRETARY LEONARDO CHIRIBOGA OF ECUADOR DESCRIBED PROGRAMMING IN HIS COUNTRY FOR 18-24 YEAR-OLDS WITH NO PRIOR LABOR EXPERIENCE TO STUDY IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES. FOLLOWING THE INTERVENTIONS, PERMANENT SECRETARY ANDREAS WICKHAM OF ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES ADDED THAT IN HIS COUNTRY, YOUTH RECEIVE A ONE-YEAR STIPEND TO GAIN EXPERIENCE IN A WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND GUATEMALA'S SECOND VICE MINISTER CANDIDA GONZALEZ CHIPIR STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG FAMILY VALUES SO THAT CHILDREN DO NOT LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY. -------------- DECENT WORK CHALLENGES IN THE HEMISPHERE -------------- ¶6. (U) MINISTER JAVIER LOZANO ALARCSN OF MEXICO HIGHLIGHTED MEXICO'S PRIORITY ISSUES FOR THE REGION. THESE INCLUDE (1) REFORMING LABOR LAWS IN MEXICO; (2) INTEGRATION IN ALL SENSES, INCLUDING ORDERLY MIGRATION; (3) A PORTAL FOR WORK ON THE INTERNET SO THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF OPPORTUNITIES; (4) SOCIAL DIALOGUE; AND (5) SOCIAL PROVISIONS SUCH AS OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY AND LABOR INSPECTIONS. HE FURTHER STATED THAT BESIDES THE ESTABLISHED WORKING GROUPS, MINISTERS SHOULD VISIT EACH OTHER'S COUNTRIES SO THAT LABOR ISSUES DO NOT JUST SEEM LIKE AN INTERNAL AGENDA. MINISTER DANNY MONTANO OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CALLED FOR A COMMITMENT TO SPECIFIC ACTIONS AT THE XV IACML RATHER THAN RHETORIC ONLY. RONALDO LESSA, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT IN BRAZIL HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAMS IN HIS COUNTRY FOR YOUTH TO FIND JOBS AND FOR COMBATING CHILD LABOR THROUGH NATIONAL PROGRAMS AND NGOS. UNDER SECRETARY ANINA DE CASTILLO OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ANNOUNCED THAT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAS ADOPTED A NATIONAL PROGRAM ON DECENT WORK BUT THAT THIS WAS FACING AN ECONOMIC CRISIS PRODUCING HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. THE INFORMAL SECTOR IS ESPECIALLY IN NEED OF A DECENT WORK PROGRAM IN THE DR. AT THE HELM OF THEIR NATIONAL MODEL FOR DECENT WORK IS A BALANCE OF LOCAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INPUT AND THE TRAINING OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITIES, WITH THE HELP OF IDB FUNDING. -------------- -------------- STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIES OF MINISTERS OF LABOR -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) MINISTER OF LABOR MANZOOR NADIR OF GUYANA ADDRESSED GUYANA'S APPROACH TOWARD BETTER LABOR LAW COMPLIANCE. HE COMMENTED THAT HIS MINISTRY IS UNDERSTAFFED AND RCOGNIZED THEIR NEED TO REORGANIZE. NADIR THANKED USDOL FOR THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HIV/AIDS IN THE WORKPLACE PROGRAMMING. VICE MINISTER RAFAEL CHACSN OF VENEZUELA SPOKE ON TRIPARTITE DEMOCRACY IN HIS COUNTRY. HE ASSERTED THAT PROTECTION OF WORKERS IS AMONG THE FIRST PRIORITIES OF THE BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION AND NOTED THE NEED FOR REFORM OF POLICIES OF THE SAVAGE CAPTIALIST SYSTEM. HE ANNOUNCED THAT THE INFORMAL SECTOR HAS RIGHTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN VENEZUELA'S HISTORY. ANTHONY GILES, DIRECTOR GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL LABOR AFFAIRS, LABOR PROGRAM, HUMAN RESOURCES AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, CANADA, SPOKE ON THE CHALLENGES TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SAID THAT WITHOUT ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY OF PROGRESS, THERE IS NO POINT TO ENGAGEMENT. HE STATED THAT DONOR PRIORITIES MUST MEET RECIPIENTS' NEEDS AND NOTED A DEFINITE LACK IN DONOR COORDINATION. -------------- WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT -------------- ¶8. (U) MINISTER QUINN-LEANDRO OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PROVIDED THE ONLY SCHEDULED INTERVENTION ON THIS SUBJECT AND CALLED FOR A HEMISPHEREIC JOINT GENDER/LABOR MINISTERIAL AND A GENDER OBSERVATORY IN HER REMARKS. D/US PONTICELLI HIGHLIGHTED THE EVER-INCREASING ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE U.S. LABOR MARKET AND THE ADDED VALUE OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WHEN WORKING WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. -------------- SOCIAL DIALOGUE -------------- ¶9. (U) MINISTER EDISON EDUARDO BONOMI VARELA OF URUGUAY BEGAN THE DISCUSSION ON SOCIAL DIALOGUE BY POINTING OUT THAT IN HIS COUNTRY, WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS AGREE THAT THERE IS A LACK OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND A COMMISSION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN DIFFERENT SECTORS TASKED WITH LOOKING FOR WAYS AHEAD FOR TRAINING AND GUARANTEEING WORK. MINISTER CARLOS TOMADA OF ARGENTINA ADDRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF ARTICULATING MACROECONOMIC POLICIES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SOCIAL DIALOGUE AND ABANDONING SHORT-TERM VIEWS AND LOOKING TO SUSTAINABILITY IN FORMING STRATEGIC TRIPARTITE ALLIANCES. MINISTER DION FOULKES OF THE BAHAMAS ITERATED THAT SKILLED WORKERS WHO FEEL MISTREATED IN HIS COUNTRY SIMPLY LEAVE TO THE UNITED STATES OR OTHER DESTINATIONS. THE BAHAMAS, THEREFORE, HAS TRIED TO MAINTAIN AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY WITH WORKERS AND UNIONS THROUGH BIPARTITE AND TRIPARTITE CONSULTATIONS. MINISTER EDWIN SALAMMN JAN OF PANAMA EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING POLICIES CONDUCIVE TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SAID THAT PANAMA IS IMPLEMENTING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR DECENT WORK, WITH THE GENERATION OF EMPLOYMENT AS A PRIORITY. PANAMA IS TAKING MEASURES TO INCREASE SOCIAL DIALOGUE INCLUDING THROUGH THE CREATION OF A TRIPARTITE COMMISSION. -------------- COSATE AND CEATAL JOINT DECLARATION -------------- ¶10. (U) CONTINUING A PRACTICE INITATED AT THE TWELFTH IACML, THE TRADE UNION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (COSATE) AND THE BUSINESS TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CEATAL) ONCE AGAIN SIGNED A JOINT DECLARATION FOR THE FIFTEENTH IACML. THE DECLARATION REITERATES A COMMITMENT TO FULL AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT WITH SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR ALL; STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING AND LIFELONG LEARNING AND URGES GOVERNMENTS TO INCLUDE PARTICIPATION OF EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS IN THE DESIGN AND APPLICATION OF TRAINING POLICIES; SUPPORTS ENHANCED SOCIAL DIALOGUE, INCLUDING THROUGH REQUESTS TO ILO AND OAS FOR ASSISTANCE IN DESIGNING A PROGRAM TO THAT END, AND REQUESTS MOLS TO SUPPORT SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN ALL FORA OF THE HEMISPHERE; AND URGES IACML CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DRAFTING PROCESSES FOR THE OAS SOCIAL CHARTER. -------------- ILO AND OAS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING -------------- ¶11. (U) FOLLOWING THE INAUGURAL SESSION ON THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, ILO DIRECTOR GENERAL JUAN SOMAVIA AND OAS SECRETARY GENERAL MIGUEL INSULZA SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON FURTHER COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ADVANCING AN AGENDA ON GENDER. -------------- CLOSING AND FOLLOW-UP -------------- ¶12. (U) DURING THE CLOSING SESSION, MINISTER TOMADA OF ARGENTINA WAS ELECTED NEXT CHAIR PRO TEMPORE BY ACCLAMATION. TOMADA BRIEFLY DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR NEW DISCOURSE AND ACTIONS. THE HEADS OF DELEGATION ALSO ADOPTED THE DECLARATION AND PLAN OF ACTION BY ACCLAMATION AT THIS TIME. IN AN UNANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT, PANAMA VOLUNTEERED THEIR INTEREST IN HOSTING THE XVII IACML. ¶13. (U) XV IACML LEADERSHIP COUNTRIES - THE TROIKA AND WORKING GROUP CHAIRS AND VICE CHAIRS MET BRIEFLY UPON THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONFERENCE, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH. A PLANNING MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER IN WASHINGTON. THE FIRST WORKING GROUP MEETING WILL LIKELY TAKE PLACE IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO IN APRIL 2008 WITH A SIDE WORKSHOP ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH. REPRESENTATIVES HAVE PROPOSED HOSTING A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS IN THE FUTURE; CANADA HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST IN HOSTING A WORKSHOP ON GENDER, CHILE A WORKSHOP ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND EL SALVADOR A WORKSHOP ON CHILD LABOR. WORKING GROUP AGENDAS, WORKSHOP TOPICS, AND AN XV IACML CALENDAR WILL BE AGREED AT THE DECEMBER PLANNING MEETING. -------------- SIDE MEETINGS -------------- ¶14. (U) IN ADDITION TO THE FORMAL PROGRAM, D/US PONTICELLI MET WITH HER NAALC COUNCIL DESIGNEE COUNTERPARTS (MEXICO AND CANADA). ¶15. (U) PONTICELLI ALSO MET WITH ILO DIRECTOR GENERAL JUAN SOMAVIA. PONTICELLI BEGAN BY PRAISING THE CONTINUATION OF ILO-OAS COOPERATION FOLLOWING THE EXPIRATION OF THE DOL-FUNDED ILO PROJECT IN SUPPORT OF THE IACML. IN RESPONSE TO PONTICELLI'S QUERIES DG SOMAVIA STATED THAT THE ILO OFFICE IN BOGOTA SHOULD BECOME MORE ACTIVE FOLLOWING THE ILO TECHNICAL MISSION TO COLOMBIA, BUT EXPLAINED THAT THE MISSION WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL "PROGRESS" IS SEEN. PONTICELLI REITERATED THE U.S. COMMITMENT TO NOMINATING AN AMERICAN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SOCIAL DIALOGUE FOR ILO GENEVA AND EXPLAINED THAT USG WILL CONTINUE WORKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM TRADE UNIONS AND EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY A CONSENSUS CANDIDATE. PONTICELLI AND SOMAVIA ALSO DISCUSSED PROGRESS/RESULTS ACHIEVED BY CHILD LABOR PROJECTS. ¶16. (U) PONTICELLI WAS JOINED BY PUCCETTI AND JENSEN IN A MEETING WITH JEAN MANINAT, DIRECTOR OF THE ILO AMERICAS REGIONAL OFFICE. MANINAT REVIEWED THE STATUS OF ILO ACTIVITIES AND THE PROPOSED ILO TECHNICAL MISSION TO COLOMBIA. USG REITERATED THE VIEW THAT AN EXPANDED ILO ROLE IN COLOMBIA TO ADDRESS BOTH VIOLENCE AND IMPUNITY, AND DAY-TO-DAY FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION ISSUES IN THE NEAR-TERM WOULD BE A STEP FORWARD FOR ALL PARTIES INTERESTED IN IMPROVING THE SITUATION IN COLOMBIA AND EXPRESSED INTEREST IN RECEIVING FURTHER APPRISALS OF RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS. ¶17. (U) THE U.S. DELEGATION MET WITH MINISTRY OF LABOR OFFICIALS FROM CAFTA-DR COUNTRIES. U.S. DISCUSSED THE CURRENT STATUS/RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF LABOR CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING IN-COUNTRY COORDINATION MEETINGS ORGANIZED BY DOL-MANAGED CUMPLE Y GANA PROJECT. U.S. EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW $2 MILLION GRANT TO TRUST FOR THE AMERICAS/OAS WAS JUST ONE PART OF THE USG ANNUAL $40 MILLION PACKAGE FOR LABOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAPACITY BUILDING IN CAFTA-DR, WHICH IS IMPLEMENTED BY STATE, USAID AND DOL. ALSO DISCUSSED WERE THE UPCOMING MEETING OF THE CAFTA-DR LABOR ADVISORY COUNCIL TO BE HOSTED BY SECRETARY CHAO IN WASHINGTON AND THE NEXT IDB-HOSTED COORDINATION MEETING FOR LABOR CAPACITY BUILDING. ¶18. (U) IN A SEPARATE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT GRANT, PONTICELLI AND PUCCETTI AND OAS SECRETARY GENERAL INSULZA WERE JOINED BY THE MINISTERS OF EL SALVADOR, COSTA RICA AND THE DR. PONTICELLI BEGAN WITH GENERAL REMARKS ABOUT THE IACML, THE BENEFITS OF SUCH FORA FOR WORKING TOGETHER ON CRITICAL LABOR MATTERS AND THE SENSE OF SHARED COMMITMENT AMONG THOSE ATTENDING THE MINISTERIAL. PUCCETTI THEN ANNOUNCED THE GRANT AND EXPLAINED HOW IT FIT INTO THE BROADER USG TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING POLICY. SECRETARY GENERAL INSULZA NOTED THAT LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES GENERALLY HAVE VERY GOOD LABOR LAWS, IN ALMOST ALL CASES CONSISTENT WITH BASIC ILO STANDARDS. THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN CRAFTING GOOD LAWS BUT RATHER IN ENFORCING THE LAWS AND CREATING A CULTURE OF COMPLIANCE. ¶19. (U) PONTICELLI ALSO INFORMALLY EXPLORED, WITH HER COLLEAGUES FROM BRAZIL AND PERU, THEIR INTEREST IN COLLABORATION ON IACML ACTIVITIES RELATED TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. BOTH COUNTRIES RESPONDED FAVORABLY AND DOL WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE. ¶20. (U) PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FIFTEENTH IACML, PONTICELLI, LIPKE, PUCCETTI AND JENSEN PARTICIPATED IN A SEPTEMBER 11 MEMORIAL CEREMONY HOSTED BY THE U.S. EMBASSY IN PORT OF SPAIN. PONTICELLI MET WITH AMBASSADOR ROY L. AUSTIN FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY. THEY DISCUSSED U.S. OBJECTIVES FOR THE LABOR MINISTERIAL, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE IACML AND THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS TO BE HOSTED BY T&T IN 2009, BILATERAL COOPERATION INITIATIVES AND CONDITIONS IN THE T&T LABOR MARKET. ¶21. (U) DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY PONTICELLI HAS CLEARED THIS CABLE. KUSNITZ