Panel Discussion: Production and Labor

At the meeting held on October 26, 2023, at the Mercosur Building, representatives from international organizations, the government, academia, labor unions, and business leaders gathered to analyze the current conditions of production and labor in Uruguay.

Global trends and opportunities for the country were explored, highlighting the pressing need for adaptation and the development of new skills by workers to address future challenges.

Additionally, significant dynamics in the labor landscape were highlighted, such as employment deceleration and gender gaps. Moreover, the risk of automation in Uruguay was underscored, emphasizing the importance of investing in education and diversifying the production matrix.

Anne Posthuma, directora de CINTERFOR-OIT que participó como panelista, citó un estudio de CEPAL que anticipa una desaceleración en la creación de empleo y para este 2024 prevé un aumento del desempleo junto a importantes brechas de género y elevados niveles de informalidad laboral.

Se trata de una época de cambio tecnológico acelerado, revolución digital e inteligencia artificial, que presenta oportunidades para generar nuevos empleos de calidad, pero también implica retos vinculados al talento humano y las competencias de las personas.

From a national perspective, economist Verónica Amarante, a lecturer at the University of the Republic, mentioned that in Uruguay, an estimated 65% of occupations are at risk of automation. However, this potential risk does not materialize because the incorporation of technology into Latin American economies is slower.

Among the panelists were present Sebastián Pérez, President of the Chamber of Industries of Uruguay, who emphasized the importance of investing in education to have qualified workers, and Marcelo Abdala, President of PIT-CNT, who stressed the need to diversify the production matrix.

Additionally, Rodrigo Goñi, National Representative and member of the Parliament's Futures Commission; Pablo Mieres, Minister of Labor and Social Security; José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary, ECLAC-Santiago; and Pablo Mieres, Minister of Labor and Social Security, participated in the discussion