- 47 - human potential. We emphasize the importance of considering the social and labor components of hemispheric integration during all stages of the negotiations process so that they will be given merited treatment. The Labor Ministries must play an essential role in this process. 23. As stated in paragraph 5 of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and its Follow-up, we reject the use of labor standards for protectionist purposes. We recall that the Declaration of the VII Meeting of the Ministers of Trade of the Hemisphere, held in Quito, Ecuador, in November of 2002, states that the creation of the FTAA, in order to make viable its objectives, must promote goals that are oriented toward economic development, the creation of jobs, and the effective operation of the labor market in the Hemisphere. In the same document, the Ministers of Trade also recognize the need for greater participation by the various sectors of civil society in the hemispheric initiative. We are pleased to see progress in the participation of civil society in this process. 24. We acknowledge that the activities carried out by the two Working Groups established by the Ottawa Plan of Action have greatly contributed to a better understanding of the social and labor dimensions of globalization and of the modernization of Ministries of Labor. We have reviewed their reports and noted with great interest the areas of consensus and the themes that require further work. We adopt the recommendations set forth in the two reports. Such advances represent an excellent basis for implementing policies and programs designed to promote decent work and strengthen the labor administrations. 25. We recognize the importance of implementing more fully the labor commitments expressed by our Heads of State and Government in the Miami, Santiago and Quebec Summit of the Americas Declarations. We recognize that having convergence between the Summit of the Americas process and the negotiations for a Free Trade Area of the Americas is beneficial. 26. With the objective of implementing actions conducive to the fulfillment of the aforementioned goals and commitments, WE RESOLVE: A. To implement a Plan of Action based on this Declaration, on the Declaration and Plan of Action of the Third Summit of the Americas, and on the work of the XII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor of the OAS, and to dedicate the necessary resources to reach this goal. B. To maintain the two working groups created by the two previous conferences, with the functions defined at those conferences as follows: Working Group 1, Labor Dimensions of the Summit of the Americas Process, will examine more in-depth globalization issues that are related to employment and labor, focusing on the implications of regional and subregional integration and free trade processes in the Hemisphere for the purpose of identifying fundamental challenges and intensifying collaboration and cooperation in the Hemisphere in seeking the best solutions to these challenges, with a strong emphasis on the integration of economic and social policies.