Labor informality: one of the challenges of technical education in Latin America

The challenge of "Educación técnica y formación profesional en América Latina: el reto de la productividad" (Technical and professional education in Latin America: the challenge of productivity).

The meeting was organized by Dialogo Interamericano (Inter-American Dialogue) and CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, who recently published a homonymous study regarding innovations with respect to this subject, in order to promote improvements in productivity. 

The debates pointed out the importance of developing soft skills, such as ethics, personal responsibility, leadership, etc., which are in demand by enteprises. It is regarding this point that a greater gap can be identified between what the organizations of the region request, and the working skills offered by technicians and professionals based on their education. 

Cases from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Mexico were presented. Agreement was reached regarding the fact that to close the gap between supply and demand, it is necessary to consolidate the national systems for the certification of competencies, which are comprehensive solution and coordination mechanisms between the governmental, labor, and entrepreneurial sectors. 

Diana Mejia, Senior Specialist at CAF, stated, "It is important to generate coordination schemes within the entities of the public sector which are related to technical and professional education". She added that the establishment of public private alliances may generate incentives for the active participation of the private sector. 

The event included the assistance of more than 100 personalities from different governmental entities such as ministries and superintendencies, as well as specialized researchers on the subject.