The Decent Work Program in the Province of Santa Fe (Argentina)

1. IALI-ILO Workshop: State of the Art: Examples and Experiences from different Regions DWCP in Argentina (provincial level) The Decent Work Program in the Province of Santa Fe (Argentina)

2. Province of Santa Fe • Surface: 133.007 Km2 • Population: 3.250.000 inhabitants. • Territory: predominantly rural, at the same time, heavily urbanized.

3. Province of Santa Fe • Productive structure linked to agriculture • Fourth country's economy in terms of products • It generates 21% of the total value of national products exported • It contributes with 8.3% of Gross National Product

4. Memorandum of Understanding for the development and implementation of a Provincial Decent Work Agenda in Santa Fe March 2008: the Memorandum for the development and implementation of a Provincial Decent Work Agenda was signed by the Government of the Province of Santa Fe and the International Labor Organization in Argentina.

5. With the Memorandum of Understanding three committees are put into operation: • 1. Tripartite Commission for Decent Work • Quadripartite Inter Commission for the Eradication of Child Labor • Quadripartite Commission for Equal Opportunities and Treatment in the Workplace

6. The commissions generated the guidelines for the Provincial Decent Work Agenda in Santa Fe. • Employers, workers, non-governmental organizations and the Provincial State took part in plenary sessions during 2008. • Broad participation, dialogue and consensus. Outcome: Provincial Decent Work Agenda in Santa Fe. •   Santa Fe is one of only two states in the Americas that have this tool.

7. 5 priority objectives of the Decent Work Agenda in Santa Fe • To reachthe registered formal work for all men and women workers in Santa Fe. • To ensure safe and healthy conditions to preserve life and psychophysical health of workers. • To promote equal opportunity and treatment in workplaces. • To prevent and eradicate Child Labor and the worst forms of adolescent work. • To ensure the universality, comprehensiveness, and improvement of the social security coverage for workers in the public domain.

8. OBJETiVE Nº 2: • To ensure safe and healthy conditions to preserve life and psychophysical health of workers.

9. Guidelines • Training for the implementation of Committees on Health and Safety at Work with organizations of employers and workers • Media campaigns, awareness raising and prevention of occupational hazards • Development of specialized inspection service in occupational health and safety • Deepening dialogue, participation and commitment with actors of the world of work of the Tripartite Commission for Decent Work, in order to improve health and safety conditions in the various sectors of activity

10. Guidelines • To include subjects and / or modules on prevention of occupational hazards into primary and secondary school syllabuses and curricula • To strengthen the link with the National Superintendence of Occupational Hazards for the purpose of improving statistical information on accidents and occupational diseases occurring in the province of Santa Fe • To incorporate specific clauses in bidding processes for provincial public works so the awarded companies and contractors obey the existing legislation regarding health and safety at work

11. Expected outcome Men and women workers doing their jobs in appropriate and fair working conditions and environment in all productive activities of the Province of Santa Fe underpinned by a genuine culture of risk prevention at work from the point of view of workers, employers and citizens in general.

12. Participation and collective construction: an institutional and creative response to global crisis

13. Tripartite Commission for Decent Work: CONSTRUCTION • New requirements for posters or boards on construction sites. Building companies are obliged to exhibit them. They identify contractors and subcontractors and prevention services required. • Register of Builders (Contractors and Subcontractors). • Promotion of studies aimed at preventing risks (Asbestos in Construction) • Campaign dedicated to prevention of working at heights

14. Tripartite Commission for Decent Work: INDUSTRY • Carrying out sectoral assessments, culminating in a tripartite seminar. It began in foundries. • Creating a provincial registration of the use of carcinogenic and possibilities of mayor accidents AGRO • Publication of studies of fatal cases and programs to avoid them • Basic Safety Data Sheets for Agricultural Machinery, Silo Plants and Cells • Responsible Use of Agrochemicals • Support to non-polluting products in Santa Fe • TRADE AND SERVICES • Code of Good Practice In Occupational Health and Safety

15. Progress on Occupational Health and Safety

16. Creation of the Provincial Health and Safety at Work •   Creation of specialized inspection service in health and safety at work • Implementation of the Code of Ethics of the Labor Inspectorate •   Inspection that favors preventive rather than repressive actions •   Enactment of the Law of Committees of Occupational Health and Safety

17. Decent Work for a fairer society