BUSINESSMED represented by its General Secretary, Mrs Jihen Boutiba, participated in the Workshop on Informal Business Integration organized by the Union for the Mediterranean in Barcelona on 18 March 2019. The Workshop focused on two interrelated thematic, namely the role of Social Dialogue and the protection of Women, Young People and Vulnerable Groups in a context of informality.

The Workshop brought together multiple stakeholders from different sectors across the labour market and the employment landscape to exchange experiences and views, share best practices and lessons learned, and present recommendations on how to tackle the transition to formal economy using multidisciplinary and integrated approaches.

Perspectives from international organizations, public administrations, NGOs, private sector representatives, and social partners were presented throughout the Workshop.

During her intervention, the General Secretary of BUSINESSMED stated: "Social Dialogue, as a mechanism for participation & consensus building in the world of work, is a key element of Decent Work and expected to play a key role in transition to Formality. It is also a must to respect freedom of association to build an effective Social Dialogue and enable Workers and Employers to defend their interests and negotiate without outside interference."

While there are best practices that can inspire integrated approaches to tackling the informality issue, the economic, political and socio-cultural specificities of each country call for a tailored remedy and for a reinforced multi-stakeholders dialogue.