Globalization brings with it the need for countries and enterprises to be more flexible and to cost effective in order to survive competition. This could generate new pressures to weaken further already weak levels of workers' protection. In fact, many investors preach and practice conditionalities of this kind, sometimes in a quite aggressive fashion. If countries were to give in to such pressures, the trade liberalization policies of the governments would come under attack and massive workers protests and civic unrest would follow that could undermine the subregion's aspiration to make a peaceful transition to the global economy. In fact, many countries in the subregion steer a prudent course of avoiding antagonizing the unions and the political opposition by resisting such pressures and strengthening labour legislation.

The key strategy to counter downwards harmonization policies triggered by business strategies of many global investors includes:

1. To demonstrate the advantages of good governance, which includes the proper management of labour markets through effective and enforceable labour law, the proper functioning of labour market institutions and effective ways of conflict prevention and resolution.
2. To demonstrate the value and importance of developing and keeping human capital in an environment of scarcity of skilled labour, which includes the need to offer a safe working environment and other forms of workers' protection. This is particular important in the context of efforts to focus on high value adding industries.
3. To demonstrate the interdependence of cost effectiveness and productivity including the recognition that worker productivity depends to a large degree on security of jobs, income and health.
4. To demonstrate that increased labour market flexibility requires the creation of functioning safety nets. Where these safety nets are not available there will be a tendency to impede companies' flexibilization strategies.

• To provide argumentative support for such policies based on local and international experiences, in particular advocacy on the basis of "Decent work" and "Your voice at work"
• To assist in strengthening the legal frameworks
• To assist in improving the capacity of the social partners to negotiate workers' protection issues in the framework of collective agreements
• To enhance knowledge about occupational health and safety issues
• To advise on the strengthening of social safety nets.

(The Office has no specialists in Occupational Health and Safety and Social Security and relies very much on HQ support for activities in these areas. However, to some degree several Specialists are actively involved in social protection issues, for example OSH legislation, labour inspection, HIV/AIDS activities and the promotion of joint OSH committees. The Deputy Director is the focal point for all activities in the social protection sector).

1. The Office has been developing a project proposal on HIV/AIDS in the world of work: a tripartite response in the Caribbean, for consideration by the USDOL for funding. The development objective of the project is the prevention of HIV/AIDS through the world of work and the mitigation of its effects on social, labour and economic development.

2. The Office participates in a CARICOM HIV/AIDS theme group and a UN theme group in Trinidad and Tobago.

3. In January 2001, a one-day workshop on HIV/AIDS in the world of work was organized for trade union officials in Barbados.

4. As follow-up to work done in Guyana on at the beginning of 2000 on their new OSH act, the Office is having a brochure prepared, aimed at explaining and highlighting the provisions of the law in an easy-to -understand manner.

5. Labour and OSH inspectors in the construction and tourism industries received new knowledge/skills and techniques at a sub-regional training workshop organized at the end of October 2000 in Guyana.

6. Two public fora were organized in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on OSH in at the end of October 2000.

7. The Office, in close cooperation with the Social Security Department in Geneva, is involved in actuarial projects in 8 countries, the latest being Montserrat.

8. The Office produced a publication on OSH in the Caribbean as well as an overview of the OSH situation for RO.

9. Trade unions continued to receive training and advice with regard to the management of joint OSH committees.

10. Preparations have started for a subregional meeting on social security financing and investment policies in in October 2001 in Antigua.