THE Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) was part of a local delegation that attended the Pacific tripartite high-level forum on climate change and decent work last week from 24-26 July in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
SICCI was represented by Board Member and Manager of local company Star Supplies, Hilda Lamani at the forum.
Lamani said the forum, co-organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the PNG Ministry of Labour discussed climate action and the future of work in the Pacific, and how to ensure a smooth transition to an environmentally sustainable world of work.
Thirteen labour ministers from ILO member states of the Pacific, including representatives of employers and workers, regional development partners and friends converged in Port Moresby over the three days to deliberate on these major issues of concern in the Pacific.
ILO member states in the Pacific include PNG, Solomon Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
The Solomon Islands delegation at the forum included the Minister of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) Clezy Rore and his Permanent Secretary Riley Mesepitu (representing Government), National Secretary to the Solomon Islands Council of Trade Union Tony Kagovai (representing workers) and the Chamber of Commerce (SICCI) representing employers.
Lamani said each party was separated into three different meetings to raise Solomon Islands’ concerns, challenges and issues based on the following themes:
• Future of Work for Climate Resilience
• Labour Mobility in Pacific Island Countries
• Opportunities and challenges of digitalization for decent work.
“The forum was mainly to discuss what each member state needs in order to solve issues they are currently facing in regards to the main three themes and then put forward for ILO’s consideration,” she said.
PNG hosted the ‘Pacific Tripartite High-Level Forum on Climate Change and Decent Work’ to mark 100 years of the International Labour Organization (ILO) globally, since its formation in 1919, making ILO the oldest UN agency with the mandate of fostering universal and lasting peace through social justice.
Also endorsing the High-Level Dialogue, visiting Director General of the ILO Guy Ryder officiated the opening of the dialogue.
Lamani said the Solomon Islands’ delegation were given the opportunity to speak directly to the Director General of ILO which was also an opportunity to put forth what Solomon Islands and in particular, us as employers, are experiencing.
Solomon Islands is a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a tripartite organisation made up of trade unions, governments and companies. Since 1919, the ILO has maintained and developed a system of international standards.
These standards aim to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions that promote or are conducive to freedom, equity, security and dignity.
Solomon Islands’ compliance with ILO Standards is a concern of the International Labour Standards and Prosecution (ILSP) Unit of the Labour Division under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI).
– SICCI Media
