The development of Suriname's Third Decent Work Country Programme is in motion
A full overview of the performance of the DWCP II was conducted at the start of the DWCP III workshop
18 September 2022
© Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth, Suriname
“Eager to move ahead” was the way that the Honourable Minister of Labour, Employment Opportunity and Youth Affairs, Steven Mac Andrew, summed up his sentiments at the start of a 5-day mission of the ILO Decent Work Team, headed by Director Dennis Zulu, from 12 – 16 September. In addition to meetings with constituents and key stakeholders such as the IMF and IDB, the ILO supported the launch of two publications that were the result of extensive research and consultation on 13 September 2022 - the new national midterm labour market policy (2022-2025) and The System Of Labour Administration In Suriname (2nd revised edition).
From 14 – 15 September ILO, with the support of Ergon Associates (a London/Netherlands-based consultancy), conducted a stakeholder workshop which firstly assessed the results and progress related to the DWCP II (2019 – 2022 extended date). Suriname’s DWCP Monitoring Commission presented a full overview of the DWCP II’s performance at the start and this self-assessment was used as the basis for the stakeholder discussions which ensued. Day two of the workshop focused on gaining stakeholder consensus on priority areas for DWCP III which, when preliminarily summarized, will focus on:
Photo gallery of field visit: On September 16 the ILO Team met with local stakeholders at the Brokopondo Information Centre. The meeting was chaired by District Commissioner, Ludwig Mendelzoon. This meeting was followed by a visit to Pierre Kondre where the Team met Captain Lloyd Read of the Kaliña people and took a tour of a pineapple farm in the Pierre Kondre/Redi Doti area run by 2 local cooperatives with a total of 27 members. This project is being executed by the ILO in collaboration with FAO and other UN partners through an SDG-funded project that supports enterprise and value chain development in Suriname’s pineapple sector. It is anticipated that additional support in this area will be elaborated in the DWCP III.
The mission concluded with assurances from the ILO Team of continued close collaboration with tripartite constituents in preparation for early November when the partners are expected to meet again with the ILO to review and approve the draft DWCP III.
| Participants at the recently concluded Suriname DWCPIII Workshop Photo credit: Ministry of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs, Suriname |
From 14 – 15 September ILO, with the support of Ergon Associates (a London/Netherlands-based consultancy), conducted a stakeholder workshop which firstly assessed the results and progress related to the DWCP II (2019 – 2022 extended date). Suriname’s DWCP Monitoring Commission presented a full overview of the DWCP II’s performance at the start and this self-assessment was used as the basis for the stakeholder discussions which ensued. Day two of the workshop focused on gaining stakeholder consensus on priority areas for DWCP III which, when preliminarily summarized, will focus on:
- Job creation, productivity, diversification;
- Securing livelihoods for all – social protection, workforce development, employment services; and
- Governance and rights at work – laws and compliance, enjoyment of rights in practice.
Photo gallery of field visit: On September 16 the ILO Team met with local stakeholders at the Brokopondo Information Centre. The meeting was chaired by District Commissioner, Ludwig Mendelzoon. This meeting was followed by a visit to Pierre Kondre where the Team met Captain Lloyd Read of the Kaliña people and took a tour of a pineapple farm in the Pierre Kondre/Redi Doti area run by 2 local cooperatives with a total of 27 members. This project is being executed by the ILO in collaboration with FAO and other UN partners through an SDG-funded project that supports enterprise and value chain development in Suriname’s pineapple sector. It is anticipated that additional support in this area will be elaborated in the DWCP III.
The mission concluded with assurances from the ILO Team of continued close collaboration with tripartite constituents in preparation for early November when the partners are expected to meet again with the ILO to review and approve the draft DWCP III.