Decent Work and Informality in the Agricultural Sector of Latin America, 2019–2023

Virtual Event, 02/12/2025

Background

The agricultural sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) continues to play a strategic role in ensuring food security, promoting decent work, and fostering business development. Although its relative share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment has declined in recent decades, it remains the main source of employment and income in vast rural areas and a driver of international trade. However, this importance contrasts sharply with a reality marked by high levels of informal employment, low productivity, gender and age inequalities, and limited access to social protection.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through their regional offices, have consolidated a strategic alliance to coordinate their work around the FORLAC 2.0 Strategy (2024–2030) and FAO's priorities for transforming agri-food systems. This alliance seeks to accelerate the transition to formal employment, strengthen social dialogue, and promote the inclusion of rural women and youth within the framework of decent work.

At this event, the FAO and the ILO will launch the publication “Decent Work and Informality in the Agricultural Sector of Latin America, 2019–2023” to facilitate dialogue and highlight evidence, share experiences and strengthen the common agenda between both agencies to advance towards a more inclusive and sustainable rural development.

Objective

Present the joint ILO-FAO publication “Decent Work and Informality in the Agricultural Sector of Latin America, 2019–2023”.

Promote multisectoral dialogue.

Contribute to strengthening the regional agenda for promoting decent work and formalization in the agricultural sector of Latin America and the Caribbean, with the support of ILO constituents, strategic United Nations system partners such as FAO, and other relevant stakeholders.

Target Audience

This event is aimed at:

Government representatives, especially from the Ministries of Labor, Agriculture, Social Development, and others.
Employers' and workers' organizations in the region.
Officials from the public and private sectors, and international cooperation agencies.
Representatives from academia.
General public.