Yolanda Díaz and her Colombian counterpart Gloria Ramírez advocate a reduction in working hours: "We will pave the way for many countries to join in"

The Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, and her Colombian counterpart Gloria Inés Ramírez, during the joint press conference

Yolanda Díaz also participated in the 22nd Inter-American Conference of Labour Ministers of the Organization of American States (OAS). The vice-president was interested in the social and labour initiatives that are being carried out in Colombia and which follow in the wake of those undertaken in Spain, such as the labour reform and the increase in the minimum wage, among others.

Extending rights for workers

For Díaz, this is a debate that until recently many people did not even consider, but which has now become a reality with broad public support. "In Spain we are going to achieve this, and as with the labour reform, we will open the way for many other countries to join in and move forward together," the vice-president assured.

In Spain the reduction of the working week to 37.5 hours is being discussed with the social partners and in Colombia a process of progressive reduction of the working week to 42 hours per week by 2026 is underway.

Díaz and Ramírez also analysed other socio-labour measures such as the increase in the Minimum Salary, with very positive effects on reducing the gender gap, and the regulation of platform work, which is fundamental for tackling precariousness and generating decent work.

Defending social dialogue

These issues were also the focus of the vice-president's speech at the 22nd Inter-American Conference of Labour Ministers of the Organization of American States (OAS), in which Spain is an observer country.

Díaz, who is the only Spanish Minister of Work to have taken part in these OAS meetings, defended the role of social dialogue as a tool for carrying out essential reforms that will enable challenges in the world of work to be faced without a reduction in workers' rights. "Without strong trade unions, without real and effective collective bargaining, these reforms are likely to remain a dead letter", insisted the minister, who also warned of the need to include in this dialogue all those who for so long have not had a voice, and specifically mentioned the case of women, domestic workers and LGBTI people.

This is the second time that Díaz has participated in a conference of OAS labour ministers. In her opinion, dialogue at the highest level with the countries of the continent is "fundamental for dealing with the major current issues such as feminism, ecology and social progress."

Relations with the Colombian Government

On her first official trip to Colombia, the vice-president continues to strengthen ties with the Latin American country and will meet with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, with whom she plans to analyse the progress of the social and labour measures undertaken by its Government, which demonstrate a firm desire to improve the working conditions of workers. They will also discuss the potential for bilateral collaboration in relation to the Social Economy.

In addition, Díaz will once again coincide with Petro at the closing ceremony on Saturday 26 October of the Economies for Life congress, a Social Economy event being held in the city of Cali, which is hosting COP16, the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity. There she will also meet with Vice-President Francia Márquez.

Spain and Colombia signed a Memorandum of Understanding last year to strengthen bilateral cooperation in socio-labour issues and maintain an extensive programme of technical assistance.

Non official translation