47th Technical Committee Meeting of ILO/Cinterfor: “Training for the Future of Work with Social Dialogue”

The 47th Technical Committee Meeting (TCM) of ILO/Cinterfor concluded with a strong call to action and cooperation to address the challenges of the future of work through robust social dialogue.

Held from 27 to 29 August 2025 in Santiago, Chile, the 47th TCM brought together more than 200 participants from 50 institutions and 25 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain to examine and discuss vocational training and skills certification in a context of rapid transformations. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Chile, together with its associated services: the National Training and Employment Service (SENCE) and the National System of Labour Competence Certification Commission (ChileValora).

Over three days, multiple sessions, conferences and exchange panels were held with the participation of specialists, technical staff and senior managers from Cinterfor’s network institutions, who shared their lessons learned, reflections and challenges in responding to the changing world of work. A special panel was also organised to highlight the experiences of those who directly demand and participate in vocational training and skills certification, featuring Silvia Araceli Hernández from Costa Rica, and Tally Arriagada and Sandra Ganga Rodríguez, both from Chile.

During the Opening Ceremony, Elena Montobbio, Director of ILO/Cinterfor, presented the 2024–25 management report and the proposed 2026–27 work plan of Cinterfor, framed within a region facing challenges such as slowing employment growth and low productivity, but also presenting opportunities in the midst of technological, environmental and demographic transitions. She explained that the forthcoming biennium’s work plan is structured around the public policy cycle, in order to better reflect the work of member institutions.

Ana Virginia Moreira, ILO Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, noted that the region is experiencing an acceleration of political, economic, social and labour transformations and an intensification of technological, environmental and demographic transitions. She stated that 44 per cent of labour competencies will be affected by automation and artificial intelligence in the next five years, and that by 2030 sustainable economies and the care sector could generate millions of jobs. She called for stronger commitment to ILO/Cinterfor, affirming that vocational training and skills certification are essential resources to anticipate and manage these changes, acting as “democratic regulators” that promote equity and social justice.

Giorgio Boccardo, Minister of Labour and Social Security of Chile, reaffirmed the centrality of work in any national and regional development strategy. For the Minister, certification and training aim to ensure just transitions that leave no one behind in the face of the “triple transition”. He emphasised that social dialogue is the “foundation of every democratic society” and that employers and workers are those who best know training requirements. According to him, success in these objectives not only boosts productivity but also combats inequalities and legitimises democracy.

Speaking on behalf of the Employers’ group, Juan Mailhos from the CNCS of Uruguay highlighted at the opening that social dialogue is essential for advancing sustainable vocational training strategies, stressing that this requires democratic political systems. He stated that training should align with development policies, aim at the creation of sustainable enterprises and be accessible to microenterprises, SMEs and entrepreneurs, given their impact on employment and their vulnerability.

Representing the Workers’ group, Natacha Sierralta Inostroza underlined the vital importance of the 47th TCM as a tripartite forum to define priorities for vocational training in Latin America and the Caribbean, given the deep and rapid transformations underway in the region. She stressed that vocational training is both a human and labour right, a pillar of decent work and a key tool for social justice. She proposed strengthening tripartism, promoting trade union participation in collective bargaining to ensure labour market transitions, expanding access to training for vulnerable groups (women, youth, migrants and informal workers), and guaranteeing decent jobs during the digital and green transitions.

Within the framework of the “Connection Zone”, significant milestones were achieved: the approval of the Ibero-American Tripartite Declaration on Vocational Training, and the commitment of various institutions, together with representatives of the Employers’ and Workers’ groups, to the mechanism for recognising the competencies of migrant workers.

Several of these sessions were broadcast live through ILO Live, expanding the reach of the meeting to a global audience.

We invite you to explore all the materials, photos and records of the entire event!