Wayne Chen PresidentCaribbean Employers’ Confederation

2010 - Canadian consultants Landell Mills contracted to report on capability of private sector organisations to contribute to policy setting in regional forums pursuant to the EPA’s Social Chapter.

ILO closely involved – recommended CEC and CCL.

CEC and CCL put forward own applications for assistance to CARIFORUM to strengthen their organisational capabilities. Not accepted as no track record.

EU announced it would provide funds for a project for the CARIFORUM countries to strengthen their civil society involvement in regional matters.

Two-pronged approach:◦ “General” NGOs◦ Specific focus on employees / employers through

CCL and CEC (with a mention of CAIC) Second part to be facilitated through the ILO.

Meeting of CEC and CCL representatives held in ILO offices in December 2012 to consider the action plan proposed by Landell Mills, to update it and to add / remove areas as necessary.

Intensive meetings with the EU delegation representatives and reworking of the report took place between January and April 2013.

Meeting in Guyana of all stakeholders with CARIFORUM officials (ILO’s programming officer, Vern Gill, CEC and David Massiah, CCL)

Further meeting held in ILO offices with CEC and CCL representatives in April 2013 to finalise action plan activities.

Documents lodged with EU in May 2013 with expectation administrative matters would be concluded in time for a start from January 2014.

Linking of the ILO component to the “general” NGO component caused delays.

Work continued sporadically throughout 2014 with adjustments and re-writes being required for the background notes and for the budgets.

The action plans remained unchanged. Finally all was agreed in time for signature on

19 December 2014.

Project start date – 2 February 2015 Project length – 36 months Project budget €1,715,00 (USD 2 million) First tranche of €594,850 (USD 700K)

received by ILO – 2 February 2015 Workplan submitted to EU – 19 February

2015 after further meeting of CEC/CCL Visibility and communication plan submitted

to EU – 2 April 2015 3 people appointed – one admin/finance in

ILO + 2 National Project Officers in CEC and CCL respectively.

EU – Funder ILO – Executing Agency◦ Overall administrative and financial responsibility to

ensure project delivers in accordance with Action Plan agreed with EU so that second and subsequent tranches can be paid.

CEC and CCL – Implementing Agencies◦ Responsibility to implement (with the support of the

ILO) the agreed Action Plan. National EOs – Affiliated beneficiaries◦ Responsibility to support activities under the Action

Plan and engage positively.

That CEC and CCL are sustainable regional representative organisations capable of playing an effective role in CARIFORUM forums on labour and social policies and being recognised as trustworthy to receive similar funding for projects after the project has ended.

That national representative organisations that are members of CEC and CCL are sustainable and able to support CEC’s and CCL’s roles after the project has ended.

CEC has capacity to ensure it has something meaningful and considered to say that will add value.

CEC has significant body of members to say it on behalf of.

CEC has somewhere to say it. CEC’s national constituents are fully involved

in developing regional policies from national experience.

CEC able to support national constituents’ concerns.

Operational◦ Recruitment and employment of staff◦ Establishment of offices◦ Purchase of equipment Ownership of equipment to remain with CEC

12 Outcomes Four joint outcomes – CEC and CCL Three CCL outcomes Five CEC outcomes

CARICOM social and economic policies are influenced through CEC and CCL having a recognised status in COHSOD and COTED.

Legislative models in place to enable harmonisation.

Alignment of education outcomes with the needs of the labour market.

Employers’ Organisations and Trade Unions play their role in the implementation, governance and monitoring of the effects of the EPA Social Aspects Chapter.

Involvement of CEC in relevant forums throughout the region as the umbrella organisation to represent and promote employers’ interests.

CEC, through national Employers’ Organisations, supports social dialogue to implement the Social Aspects Chapter of the EPA.

CEC’s research/analytical capacity strengthened for the development of policy positions in support of an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises.

CEC’s coordinating capacity for determining policy positions and concerns is reinforced.

CEC’s coordination capacity for identification of training needs and delivery is enhanced.

Started pre-project with CEC/CCL participating in annual meetings of Caribbean Ministers of Labour 2013,’14, ’15, COHSOD 2014, SIDS Conference Samoa 2014.

Developing advocacy strategy – that is, what will CEC say at the Forums where it has a voice.

15 Bipartite National Workshops to be held between July and September 2015 raising awareness of the need for a consolidated regional position and how to develop such a position.

Focus will initially be on four core areas set out in the Social Chapter of the EPA (on CD)

MoU between CEC and CCL signed on 26 May 2015 (in papers).

Consultants will undertake desk review of legislation (August – October).

Regional bipartite meeting in October to discuss priorities and practices at national level to inform on-going work.

Better alignment of education outcomes with the needs of the labour market.

Survey to be undertaken of EOs and their members on skills gaps (August – October)

Regional bipartite meeting in October to discuss development of joint policy to involve EOs and TUs at national levels in decision-making processes related to curriculum development, financing and how the education satisfies the needs of the labour market.

Ensure effective social dialogue mechanisms exist at national and regional levels.

Study Tour to Belgium by CEC and CCL representatives to learn from their counterparts about the European model of social dialogue – May 2015.

National bipartite workshops (July –September) will discuss country-specific issues related to effective social dialogue mechanisms on a national level.

Involvement of CEC in relevant forums throughout the region as the umbrella organisation to represent and promote employers’ interests.

Quarterly newsletter as platform for information on policy positions and concerns.

Interactive website to ensure two-way communication.

Survey to be conducted on members’ knowledge / attitude / practices of social dialogue.

Training undertaken on social dialogue for national EOs and members.

CEC articulates an appropriate model for involvement in social dialogue based on input from NEOs.

CEC’s research / analytical capacity strengthened for the development of policy positions in support of an enabling environment for sustainable enterprises.

Surveys undertaken of existing research facilities used by NEOs and assessment of internal NEO research capabilities (underway).

Training provided for NEO staff on survey methods and retrieval and use of data.

Undertake survey of issues of concern to NEOs and their members (completed).

Facilitate forums to identify and prioritise issues of importance (now!)

CEC develops a regional method of consultation with NEOs with regard to training needs and delivery.

Regional workshop (February 2016 tent) to determine training issues and processes.

Training at national levels undertaken on shared resource basis.

National bipartite workshops◦ See list of countries and dates in folders

Regional bipartite conference◦ 21- 23 October 2015 - Grenada

Regional NEO Forum◦ February 2016 – date and venue to be determined

Project funding can be used for the benefit of CARIFORUM member countries only.

ILO and CEC consider it important to include EOs from NMTs in the work undertaken recognising the need to support their activities and receive their input to CEC’s development on issues of relevance and concern.

Therefore representatives of NMTs will be included in activities whenever possible.

Critical that all NEOs support CEC throughout the period of the project to enable it to be recognised as a representative, effective body that adds value to regional policy development.

Once so established, independent funding for on-going activities in the region can be sought.

The ILO and CEC look forward to your collaboration in ensuring a successful programme of work is undertaken for the benefit of employers throughout the Caribbean.