Yolanda Díaz ends her trip to Colombia with a fierce defence of the Social Economy: "It is an alternative for the present and the future"

The Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, together with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro

At this meeting, a strong defence was made of alternative production and wealth generation models; models that are sustainable and compatible with the basic needs of humanity that make up the Social Economy.

Ecoovida is an event to promote the Social Economy that has been developed within the framework of COP16, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference hosted by Cali. The scheduled meetings and debates have given visibility to this productive model that contributes to progress while respecting the environment, advancing social cohesion, generating decent work and a more equitable distribution of wealth.

Meeting between the Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, and the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro

"The Social Economy establishes equality at the heart of labour, social and economic relations," said the vice-president, who also highlighted the flexibility of the entities that make up the Social Economy, as they offer greater job stability, which also leads to a smaller wage gap.

After the strong institutional and economic backing received from the Ministry of Work and Social Economy for cooperatives, insertion companies, labour companies and other entities that make up this network of entities and companies, the vice-president insisted that they constitute "a democratic, green and feminist alternative to a system that is incapable of offering more answers."

"The Social Economy is a present and future alternative to global disorder, and allows for the construction of more horizontal relations between Europe and Latin America, based on labour rights and social justice," said the minister, who advocates putting the focus on a more human economy and for people, which manages to go "beyond the cold macroeconomic indicators."

Meeting with Vice-President Francia Márquez

The Second Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, together with Vice-President and Minister for Equality and Equity, Francia Márquez

Vice-President Díaz closed her first official trip to Colombia with a meeting with the Vice-President and Minister for Equality and Equity, Francia Márquez, with whom she discussed the excellent bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the socio-labour field.

The Department headed by Márquez has shown interest in the measures implemented in Spain to reduce the pay gap, such as the increase in the minimum salary, as well as the protection of domestic workers.

This meeting marked the end of an official trip that began on Thursday with the vice-president's participation in the 22nd Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labour of the Organization of American States (OAS). She also met with her counterpart Gloria Ramirez and was received by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

Non official translation