The First International Symposium on Work, Social Security, and Sustainable Development, to be held from June 24 to 25 at Havana’s Palacio de las Convenciones, will serve as a platform to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences through the use of science and innovation.

The event’s agenda encourages the search for answers to new social and labor realities. In this effort, it has brought together researchers, academics, university students, experts, public officials, and employers.

Also invited to participate are representatives of bodies, agencies, and international organizations, trade unions, professional associations, and other stakeholders interested in contributing their proposals to the design and implementation of policies for sustainable and inclusive development.

The symposium’s scientific program includes not only academic activities but also specialized visits to scientific and cultural institutions in Havana.

Under the theme For Decent Work and Sustainable Social Development, the symposium’s debate sessions will be held. The event is organized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), the Cuban Social and Labor Observatory, the Center for Labor and Social Security Studies, and the Havana International Conference Center, with support from the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Cuba, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Goal 8 of the 2030 Agenda—Decent Work and Economic Growth—identifies the need to create more than 600 million new jobs to respond to demographic trends and the pace of growth in the global working-age population.

The relationship between employment and economic growth creates a virtuous cycle and is considered a driving force of development, both for national economies and for individuals, according to a statement published by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) on its Telegram account.