On August 10th, 2024, a regional workshop was held with Latin American leaders of COTRADO ALAC. The agenda included discussions on the current state of social protection in the region and planning for a regional meeting in El Salvador scheduled for January 2025. HNI also provided an update on the ongoing project to map social protection policies among HNI affiliates from El Salvador, Uruguay, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and Bulgaria.
Social Protection Policies Update for El Salvador and Uruguay
The mapping was developed through online research and interviews with local organisations. While the assessment for El Salvador is complete, further work is needed to finalise the study for Uruguay.
The assessments examined social assistance, social security, and social services (such as health and education), with a focus on issues faced by home-based workers. Documents were drafted to outline these workers’ rights and the available social protection policies in each country. Both Uruguay and El Salvador were included in the study due to their specific regulations recognizing home-based workers, despite not having ratified the relevant ILO convention.
Studies indicate that Uruguay has progressive policies on social housing and care work, while El Salvador’s labor code acknowledges home-based work, though enforcement remains inconsistent.
Country updates on Social Protection
El Salvador: Human rights issues persist, and social programs are deteriorating; home-based workers remain unrecognised.
Uruguay: While progressive policies exist, the country faces cuts and reforms, as well as challenges with the monotributo system.
Brazil:Efforts are ongoing to strengthen workers’ rights despite previous dismantling of social structures.
Argentina: Economic crises are affecting workers’ access to services, but mobilisation for better conditions continues.
Chile: Despite offering various pandemic-related bonuses, gaps remain in labour accident laws and challenges with the monocotisización proposal.
Next steps
The upcoming regional meeting is scheduled for the week of January 19th, 2025, lasting for five days. This meeting will bring together two representatives from each COTRADO ALAC country, along with two representatives from HNI.
