Aims and expected outcomes of the meeting

The purpose of the meeting was to review the priorities of Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCPs) in the ILO member countries in the Pacific islands, and to identify a framework for a Pacific decent work strategy that reflects the issues and problems common to the Pacific island countries in the implementation of DWCPs and the Asian Decent Work Decade. The meeting set out to establish clear priorities both at national and sub-regional levels that would enable the ILO and its tripartite constituents to work closely with the United Nations and Bretton Woods institutions, regional organizations and the donor community to better integrate the objectives of economic growth, full and productive employment, poverty alleviation and decent work in policy dialogue and programming cycles. The meeting provided a platform for government technical specialists and the representatives of workers and employers from the Pacific region to:

• Discuss growth, employment and decent work scenarios up to 2015 and identify key issues that need to be addressed by countries in the Pacific region as they strive to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals. The focus is on policy responses that can promote both employment-rich growth and inclusive development, underpinned by strengthened labour market institutions and governance;
• Recommend priorities for the implementation of DWCPs, exchange experiences and good practices, and identify common issues and cooperation initiatives including knowledge sharing for a Pacific decent work strategy; and
• Enhance the knowledge and capacity of tripartite constituents for effective participation in social dialogue and in economic and social policy formulation through key partnerships and the development and implementation of DWCPs.