The Ministry of Commerce Industry Labour and Immigration (MCILI)has for the first time met with the stakeholders for consultation and set up a working task force to work on the labour law review, labour market information and analyses, and national wages policy.
The initiative was to establish a tripartite partnership between the Government, the employers and the workers union.
The consultation was organized by the Commissioner of Labour office.
This was according the newly established Labour advisory body advice and was looking forward to work closely with the International labour organization ILO, as proposed between the Commissioner of Labour Josiah Manehia and the Suva based ILO officers recently in Fiji.
ILO officers will be here early next month to discuss the matter.
Speaking during the consultation yesterday at the Labour conference room, Mr Manehia said, “This is a complicated task but we have to be seriously tap on.
“Specific amendments must be made to the Solomon Islands Labour laws, in relation to immigrant and emigrant workers to become an Act. This will definitely needs amendments to section 37 of the labour Act cap 73, and section 19 of the employment Act Cap. 72.”
He also stated that the growing concern of this country is the unemployment issue.
“Unemployment is a growing and serious issue in our country today. Many university graduates were roaming the streets and visibly seen as unemployed in our society.
“We need realistic and systematic labour market information and analyses developed to collect relevant and necessary country data could be captured, in order to determine a formulation of more realistic policies and national objectives.
“From the country data, realistic national budgeting can also be drawn, as well as we could identify and have an entry level for our unemployed young generation.
“Most of the times we depend very much of information from statistics office which were too broad and general in scope”.
Meanwhile he added that the task force is also to look into the national wages policy.
“Currently the country provides for only agriculture, fisheries, and plantation sectors. We feel that it’s about time for Solomon Islands to further review this and take efforts to consider a policy that caters for industries, locations and occupations.
“We are certainly looking forward to work along with the ILO who has access necessary resources, sources, and experience to provide the technical guidelines and support in this Endeavour.”
By CHARLEY PIRINGI
