During his participation in the Conference of Ministers of Labor of Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Bogotá, Colombia (May 21-22, 2026), Marc-Elie Nelson, the Haitian Minister of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST), proposed the establishment of a "regional system for the recognition of professional skills".

Minister Nelson believes this mechanism can foster entrepreneurship, strengthen access to public employment services, and promote the financial and digital inclusion of migrants.

"Investing in these areas is investing directly in the stability, prosperity, and cohesion of our region," stated Minister Nelson, who encouraged the creation of a regional innovation fund for professional inclusion.

Furthermore, he called on his peers for a united, collaborative, and coordinated response to address the migration and climate challenges in the region, stating,

"We must raise our voices together strongly against xenophobia, discrimination, and all forms of exclusion in the world of work."

A multilateral memorandum of understanding and a declaration, dubbed the Bogota Declaration on Dignified Labor Migration and Rights-Based Mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean, were initialed at the end of the Conference.

By adhering to this Memorandum of Understanding and the Bogota Declaration, Haiti reaffirms its firm and unwavering commitment to a regional model that places human dignity at the heart of public policy.

HL/ HaitiLibre