Handbook for estimating the socio-economic and environmental effects of disasters.

Taken from Introduction: Disasters have a major impact on the living conditions of the population, the economic performance of the countries or regions affected, and on environmental assets and services, with consequences that go beyond the short term and in some cases even irreversibly impact economic and social structures and the environment. In the case of industrialized countries, disasters caused huge damage to the large stock of accumulated capital, whereas losses of human life are limited thanks, among other factors, to the availability of effective early warning and evacuation systems as well as better urban planning and the application of more strict building codes and standards. In developing countries, on the other hand, the number of deaths is usually high because of greater vulnerability brought about by the lack or inadequacy of forecast and evacuation programs; and although losses of capital might be smaller in absolute terms when compared to those in developed countries, their relative weight and overall impact tend to be very significant,1 even affecting sustainability. Disasters may have natural origins or be man-made. However, their consequences derive from a combination of both processes; that is to say, from human interaction with nature and her cycles or systems. Not only do disasters occur frequently around the world, but it would seem that their incidence and intensity have been increasing in recent years. They cause the loss of many lives, directly and indirectly (primarily or secondarily), affect large segments of the population, and cause significant damage to the environment and large-scale economic and social harm

2004 Labour Overview: Latin America and the Caribbean

[Excerpt] In summary, and as discussed in the corresponding section of the 2004 Labour Overview, several countries experienced labour progress in 2004, while progress stagnated in others and declined in a few. It is therefore a year marked by advances and setbacks, with favourable projections for 2005 as long as the positive perspectives for economic growth persist, the growth of the labour supply remains at moderate levels and economic and social policies are applied that make quality employment a core objective. In addition to the analysis of the labour market situation during the first three quarters of 2004 and projections for 2004 and 2005, this edition of Labour Overview includes three feature articles. The first feature is a summary of the proposals for decent work and employment policy that the ILO presented at the MERCOSUR Regional Employment Conference in April 2004. The second feature summarizes the conclusions of a recent ILO study on the microeconomic factors that have an impact on labour productivity. The third feature article discusses a recent ILO study on the magnitude and characteristics of child labour to be abolished (labour prohibited by law in the respective countries) in the region. In addition, three boxes included in the report present key labour issues, such as recent minimum wage trends in the region, the sectoral composition of urban employment and social security contributors as well as the situation and trends with regard to freedom of association in the region. The 2004 Labour Overview also contains the Statistical Annex, and for the first time presents current information on labour market performance in Canada and the United States

2001 Labour Overview: Latin America and the Caribbean

[Excerpt] 2001 Labour Overview appears at a difficult time in the world economic situation, aggravated by the events of last 11 September. As short-term indicators have shown, these have had marked repercussions on the economy and employment of most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The present labour situation shows a large and growing deficit in Decent Work, understood as productive jobs in good conditions, with freedom, equality, security and human dignity. In this respect, the present report is making a first effort to calculate the decent work development index, and raises some proposals for reducing the deficit. Moreover, future editions of this publication will increase the indicators in order to make in-depth observations on other aspects related to the idea of a decent work, as enunciated by the Director General of the ILO in 1999. Finally, analyses indicate that labour prospects are not very encouraging for the coming year. This forces governments, social protagonists and the ILO itself to make a special effort to advance in generating more employment with better labour conditions for everyone

2005 Labour Overview: Latin America and the Caribbean

[Excerpt] In summary, although regional economic growth has led to an improvement in some key labour market indicators, there remains a substantial decent work deficit which requires the continuous application of integrated economic and social policies whose focus should be the generation of decent work, balancing the need for competitiveness and efficiency with that of social protection, employment security and respect for labour and human rights. This edition includes two feature articles. The first analyzes voluntary migration trends both within and outside the region, as well as the internal and external conditions that drive migration. The article concludes that labour migration has both positive and negative effects for the countries of origin and destination, as well as for immigrants and their families. A box article provides a proposal for a regional plan of action regarding migrant workers. The second feature article analyzes economic and labour progress in Latin America and the Caribbean since the application of economic stabilization policies in the early 1990s. The conclusion is that while important progress has been made, particularly in improving macroeconomic imbalances, these positive changes have been accompanied by an increase in unemployment and precarious employment as well as a deterioration in income distribution. To address these issues, the article presents policy proposals designed to achieve economic growth compatible with decent work. The Labour Overview Advance Report for 2005 also includes a statistical annex that accompanies the labour situation report as well as an explanatory note with concepts, definitions and information sources. Latin American and Caribbean countries face a paradox from a labour market perspective: the regional economy is in a better situation than ever to improve the quality of life for the region’s inhabitants; nevertheless, current labour and social challenges are more daunting than ever before. In the task of achieving decent work for all, governments, workers and entrepreneurs of the region have at their disposal the instruments, experience and technical support of the International Labour Office

2000 Labour Overview: Latin America and the Caribbean

[Excerpt] To summarize, the region still cannot overcome the 1980s “foreign debt crisis”. The moderate and unstable recovery that took place in the 1990s was not enough to compensate for the deterioration experienced in 1985. A comparison between the labour performance of those countries in 1985 and 2000, shows that five are in better shape (Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Uruguay), six are faring worse (Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela), while four (Colombia, Honduras, Mexico and Panama) remain at the same level of labour progress recorded in the mid-80s. Nevertheless, the outlook for the year 2001 is more encouraging. GDP growth projections for 2001 point at a persistent process of economic recovery in all the countries under review. A regional 4.2% rate of growth that would drive the unemployment rate down to 8.1% has been projected. The exception is Mexico, where growth would decrease, although still at rates over the regional average, and the unemployment rate would continue to be the lowest in the region. Notwithstanding the expected drop in unemployment, several countries will show over two-digit rates: Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador will register between 14% and 17.5%; Uruguay and Venezuela between 12% and 13%. Only Brazil, Chile and Mexico will remain below the regional average (8.1%)

The Needs and Opportunities for Agricultural Research from the Perspective of Latin America and the Caribbean

Document summarizing the research challenges faced by the Latin America and Caribbean Region prepared on behalf of the Regional Forum for Agricultural Research in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is based on the full action plan for that region, which is also included in the record. The shorter document was prepared for the first meeting of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research held during CGIAR International Centers Week, October-November 1996.The paper described research priorities, and the status of national research, taking Mexico as an example. It discussed ways of increasing the effectiveness and impact of agricultural research in Latin America through more effective partnerships between regional, subregional, and national actors, as well as through their participation in global agricultural research. These two documents were circulated as inputs to GFAR discussions leading to the Declaration and Action Plan for Global Partnerships in Agricultural Research

2002 Labour Overview: Latin America and the Caribbean

[Excerpt] For 2002, the region’s GDP growth rate is expected to fall by -0.8%, while ILO projections indicate that the region’s GDP should grow 3% in 2003, thus permitting the region’s urban unemployment to drop to 8.6%, still very high, but closer to rates achieved in the last years of the previous decade. No symmetrical effect in terms of pushing down the decent work deficit should be expected, however. The region needs to grow by at least 4% annually if a rise in both unemployment and lack of social protection is to be avoided. The experiences garnered from frequent crises in the past indicate that in periods of economic growth or boom the labour market’s basic variables recover more slowly than the pace at which they deteriorate at times of contraction or recession

Informe del monitoreo psicosocial aplicado a las y los recicladores de la Asociación de Servicio de Reciclaje ASOSERJEBRE – Portoviejo, entre junio de 2021 y diciembre de 2021

Este informe presenta los resultados del monitoreo de salud aplicado a una parte de la población recicladora organizada en la Asociación de Servicio de Reciclaje ASOSERJEBRE 17 de septiembre, de la parroquia San Pablo, cantón Portoviejo. El monitoreo se aplicó en tres fases, entre junio y diciembre de 2021, a un grupo de 63 personas, correspondiente al 50% del número total de integrantes de la ASOSERJEBRE y con el enfoque de salud colectiva que ha caracterizado a la Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar. La primera fase se realizó en junio de 2021 y en ella se registró los datos personales de la/el reciclador, género, edad, auto identificación étnica, ubicación y características de la vivienda familiar, situación de servicios básicos, existencia de enfermedades crónicas, existencia de alergias y las variables necesarias para evaluar la vacunación contra la COVID-19. La segunda fase se realizó en agosto de 2021 y en ella se registró las variables correspondientes, por un lado, al estado de vacunación contra el Tétano y la Hepatitis B, y, por otro, las afectaciones psicológicas y físicas de la población. La tercera y última fase se realizó entre noviembre y diciembre de 2021 y en ella se aplicó el bloque de preguntas de COVID-19 de la fase 1, para dar seguimiento al acceso a vacunas y estado de vacunación de la población recicladora. Se trabajó con un total de 34 variables, organizadas en seis bloques y evaluadas a través de 232 posibles valores, que se organizaron en seis bloques para el análisis: caracterización de la población, inserción de clase social, morbilidad referida, psicomorbilidad referida, vacunas y COVID-19. El análisis se basó en el diagnóstico por género, puesto que ésta fue la mayor división identificada en el universo de la muestra, con un 51% de personas de género masculino y 49% de género femenino. Se consideró que un análisis basado en el diagnóstico por clase social, requería una muestra con una distribución más equitativa entre los cuatro sectores considerados para la evaluación del territorio, pues, a pesar de que toda la población de la muestra está en situación de pobreza y pertenece a un estrato urbano marginal, hay diferencias en el acceso a servicios básicos y condiciones de vivienda que intervienen en una subdivisión de clase. Finalmente, se evaluó la situación de vacunación contra el Tétano, la Hepatitis B y, de manera especial, contra la COVID-19