Minister raises Pacific’s climate concern at Geneva conference

11 June 2017, 12:00AM

The Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fio Purcell, is in Geneva, Switzerland, this week.

His is leading the Samoa Tripartite delegation at the 106th International Labour Conference (I.L.C.) being held there.

The delegation includes government officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, employers’ representative from the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a workers’ representative from the Public Service Association 

The I.L.C. is the International Labour Organization’s (I.L.O) highest decision making body that meets once a year bringing together tripartite delegations of more than 5,000 government, workers and employers from 187 Member States to discuss the Director-General’s Report, and set international policies on improving social justice in the world of work.  

This year’s conference is focusing on the I.L.O Director-General, Guy Ryder’s Report for 2017 entitled Working in a changing climate: the Green Initiative.  

The Minister during his intervention emphasised Samoa’s support of the I.L.O’s strategic goals to create and promote decent work for all.

He highlighted some of Samoa’s achievements, specifying priority areas in Samoa’s Decent Work Country Programme (D.W.C.P.) 2017-2020.  

The Minister also raised the concern of many Small Island Developing Countries vulnerable to natural disasters and rising sea levels.  

He said Pacific Islands need assistance of the global community, in addressing climate change to prevent, mitigate and adapt to it, thus ensuring a just transition of the world of work to environmental sustainability.  

He stressed the importance of effective policies to address current concerns with regards to the Future of Work, and to generate employment with particular focus on vulnerable groups.  

Furthermore, he accentuated that; “D.W.C.P.  will be the tool for building a future of decent work, promoting fair working terms and conditions for Workers, and ensuring productivity for Employers”.  

The Minister concluded with a statement that to be successful in this regard requires collaborative efforts between governments, employers and workers through effective and meaningful social dialogue.

During the Conference this year, committees of workers, employers and government representatives will be considering how best to promote peace and stability at work. 

They are also discussing labour migration, fundamental principles and rights at work with particular focus on occupational safety and health. 

The Conference also addresses Member States that have failed to comply with international Labour Standards Reporting. 

(Read the Minister’s full intervention)


11 June 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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