- 49 - JOINT CEATAL-COSATE DECLARATION At the XIII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor of the Organization of American States (OAS), the employers and workers of the Americas, represented through the Business Technical Advisory Committee on Labor Matters (CEATAL) and the Trade Union Technical Advisory Council (COSATE) reaffirm that the follow closely the integration and free trade processes of the Americas and, within these processes, the social and labor dimension of integration. They further reiterate the need to continue the relationship of cooperation between the OAS and the ILO in social and labor topics and in the area of the labor dimension of integration, where respect for basic labor rights is guaranteed, based on application of the principles contained in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, an essential condition for moving towards development with social justice. In this regard, they agreed to the following: Declaration • We issue an appeal to the governments to address, with the support of the ILO, employment as a possible to overcome conditions of inequality and delayed development that persist in many countries of our region; create greater opportunities for progress and well-being, as well as generate spaces for high-level dialogue central concern and key element for the development of plans intended to eradicate poverty and that make it between governments, social interlocutors, and international and regional financial institutions for discussion of the situation regarding employment and its current impact on levels of poverty, and thereby contribute to proceeding with the design of harmonious policies in the context of decent work. • Further, we place special emphasis on the need to generate social dialogue on strengthening education throughout life, and on continuing professional and managerial training as key instruments for the promotion of decent employment in the framewowrk of sustainable development. • CEATAL and COSATE evaluate positively their participation in the initiatives of the IACML. In the process of deepening such partcipation, both organizations feel that it would be necessarty to change their role as advisory bodies to that of consultative organs of the IACML. They request the ILO in turn to involve ACTEMP and ACTRAV in all the meetings of the Working Groups and the CIMT in support of CEATAL and COSATE, and they reiterate their commitment to continue to collaborate and contribute to that work. To that effect, they draw attention to the need for the OAS and the governments to contribute to strengthening both counciss and facilitate the necessary financial mechanisms for ensuring that presence and participation. President of CEATAL Daniel Funes de Rioja President OF COSATE Ericson Crivelli