ILO meetings in Suriname focus on DWCP advancements
Assessments covered overall achievements, challenges and opportunities faced by constituents.
Reviewing the delivery of Suriname’s Decent Work Country Programme was the main focus of strategic engagements between and ILO Caribbean delegation and the country’s tripartite constituents.
The five-day mission (26-30 March 2024) marked the first-time ILO Caribbean Director Dr Joni Musabayana held in-person meetings with senior officials and representatives of Government, employers and workers. He was joined by ILO Caribbean Deputy Director Lars Johansen, Workers’ Activities Specialist Vera Guseva, Employers’ Activities Specialist Viki Giulietti, Senior Programme Officer Ingerlyn Caines-Francis; and Programme Assistant Lesley Nelson.
Their discussions included the Honourable Steven Mac Andrew, Minister of Labour, Employment and Youth Affairs; Glenn Piroe, Deputy Director of the Ministry’s International Affairs Unit and Chair of the DWCP Monitoring Commission; Rekka Bissumbhar, President of the Vereniging Surinaams Bedrijfsleven (VSB)/Suriname Trade and Industry Association (STIA); Kamlesh Ganesh, Vice President of the VSB/STIA; Armand Zunder, Chair of the Council of Trade Union Confederations; Victor Jones, Director of the Scholingsinstituut voor de Vakbeweging in Suriname; and Dr Danny Lachman, Director of the Stichting Planbureau Suriname (SPS)/Planning Bureau.
During their meetings the ILO Caribbean team consulted with constituents to assess overall achievements, challenges and opportunities faced by constituents as they implement multiple streams of activities under the country’s third DWCP, which was launched in February 2023 and will be in effect until 2026.
The DWCP prioritizes the strengthening of Suriname’s labour market through focus on three priority areas (i) Jobs, productivity, and sustainable growth; (ii) Livelihoods, human capital, and a skilled workforce; and (iii) Labour market governance and labour rights. It is also designed to integrate and find synergies with the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF), 2022-2026 and the Country Implementation Plan (CIP) for Suriname.
Achievements highlighted during the mission included the fulfilment of ILO Convention ratifications set as targets under the DWCP; recent technical advice on development of hazardous child labour (HCL) and light work lists and knowledge exchange on labour inspection methodologies and strategic planning; the completion of a results measurement framework by the DWCP Monitoring Commission with the support of the ILO team; and an initial introduction to green jobs with subsequent related training of a member of the DWCP Monitoring Committee by the ILO International Training Centre (ITC-ILO).
"The DWCP Monitoring Committee is grateful to Dr Musabayana and the ILO Caribbean team for working in partnership with us to evaluate how we are addressing decent work deficits. Meeting with them during their mission was important to reflect on progress, acknowledge challenges and make adjustments that will ensure maximum success and impact of the Programme,” explained Glenn Piroe.
Areas requiring ILO attention and support included updating and strengthening labour laws; implementation of a labour market policy; improving the labour market information system (LMIS); advancing the Country Acceleration Plan (CAP) to prevent and eliminate child labour; introducing an employment-intensive investment programme; improving social dialogue on topics such as formalization, just transition and productivity; and developing inclusive economic planning.
"The ILO is pleased with the progress made under Suriname's third DWCP. We are committed to working with the National Decent Work Commission and other partners to ensure its full and successful implementation,” said Director Musabayana.