US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10447

UNCLAS BOGOTA 010447 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, PGOV, CO, ILO 
SUBJECT: ILO REGIONAL REPS REQUEST U.S. FUNDING FOR 
COLOMBIA PROGRAMS 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (U) On October 26, Director of the Andean Subregional 
Office for the International Labor Organization J. Ricardo 
Hernandez met with Political Counselor to review ILO's 
Colombia program and solicit continued U.S. support.  The 
program has sought to promote dialogue between enterprise and 
labor via international forums.  The ILO is proposing four 
projects that promote labor rights and assist vulnerable 
groups, each with an estimated cost of $1 million.  Hernandez 
said he is seeking financing from countries that have 
expressed interest in promoting labor rights, and expects the 
ILO to schedule a donor's roundtable on the margins of the 
Governing Body session in November in Geneva.  End Summary. 
 
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PROGRAM EXPANDS ILO ASSISTANCE TO VULNERABLE GROUPS 
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2.  (U) Hernandez explained that the ILO has recommended a 
second phase to their Special Program for Colombia, which was 
initiated in 2003 and consisted of a series of international 
forums aimed at promoting dialogue betwen enterprise and 
labor.  The second phase would cost $1 million for each 
project over two years.  The projects include: 
 
--Strengthening worker's rights through promoting the right 
to organize and bargain collectively, as well as "increasing 
social dialogue"; 
--Promoting economic opportunities for women heads of 
household through microfinance; 
--Generating opportunities for displaced and demobilized 
youth; and 
--Strengthening local government's ability to develop 
employment opportunitites. 
 
3.  (U) The second phase, according to Hernandez, places a 
new emphasis on assisting the most vulnerable subgroups of 
Colombian society, such as disenfranchised youth and women, 
while maintaining the program's focus on social dialogue and 
traditional labor rights.  Hernandez explained that the 
details are in the final stages of discussion with the 
Ministry of Social Protection. 
 
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SOLICITING DONORS 
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4.  (SBU) Hernandez said the ILO, with the consent of the 
GOC, will convene a donor's roundtable in November, inviting 
the United States, Germany, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, 
France, and Spain.  He commented that during his visit to 
Bogota he had met with and received a positive response from 
the Spanish and Swedish ambassadors. Hernandez said his visit 
with the French Embassy resulted in a lukewarm response to 
the projects. 
 
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NEXT STEPS 
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5.  (U) Rodriguez requested U.S. support for the projects and 
also asked that we promote them with other donor country 
representatives.  Rodriguez said the donor's roundtable would 
be finalized soon.  The Embassy will forward electronic 
copies of the ILO project proposals to WHA/AND and IO/T. 
WOOD