This Recommendation includes crucial references to several issues such as: protection and promotion of female and male workers; advisory activities for organisations of employers and workers, gender equality and non-discriminatory measures; social protection; measures and enforcement mechanisms to safeguard the interests of workers' in SMEs, and the need to promote respect for ILO's Conventions related to freedom of association, discrimination and child labour.

The year 2005 has been called the International Year of Microcredit with the intention that the international community becomes more aware of the importance of microcredit and microfinance in order to eradicate poverty and to improve the already existing programmes that support inclusive and sustainable financial sectors around the world. Working together for the assessment and promotion of microfinance is a challenge for UN State members, UN agencies and the main financing partners in order to change the lives of people that live under poverty conditions and to contribute to the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals.

The role and potential of small enterprises of the region as well as the importance and particular significance of all such factors are closely related to their recent history. It is therefore essential to establish a conceptual framework that includes a reasonable perspective, characteristics, role and challenges of the enterprises in this sector.

This is the reason why we devote a special space where you can find documents and publications from Cinterfor, ILO, other bodies, institutes, etc. as well as a list of sites of interest.

Furthermore, there is also a brief description of some of the efforts, plans and programmes implemented by VTIs of the region in order to strengthen micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, the workers' and entrepreneurial sector; and to generate and support new enterprise projects.