Dominican Republic to host 20th ILO Regional Meeting in Punta Cana

Santo Domingo.- Labor Minister Eddy Olivares Ortega announced that the Dominican Republic will host the 20th American Regional Meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO) from October 1 to 3, 2025, at the Barceló Bávaro Hotel Convention Center in Punta Cana. The event, held every four years on different continents, is the ILO’s main gathering in the Americas and will be the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Luis Abinader and ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo will lead the opening session, followed by thematic discussions on job creation, labor rights, sustainable development, public training policies, and building resilient societies. The meeting will conclude with the adoption of agreements, all broadcast live via ILO Live. More than 500 delegates representing governments, workers, and employers are expected to attend.

Olivares emphasized that the forum reflects the ILO’s spirit of tripartite dialogue, fostering cooperation among states, employers, and workers. He described the event as a vital opportunity to exchange ideas and design strategies to address the region’s labor challenges.