Suriname embarks on its 3rd Decent Work Country Programme

In preparation for the 3rd Decent Work Country Programme for Suriname (DWCPS-III), members of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, including Mr Dennis Zulu, Director, Mr Lars Johansen, Deputy Director and Mrs Ingerlyn Caines-Francis, Senior Programme Officer, visited Suriname from 14 - 15 June 2022 to hold discussions with the Minister of Labor, Employment and Youth Affairs, The Hon. Steven Mac Andrew, the Suriname DWCP Monitoring Commission, the Vereniging Surinaams Bedrijfsleven | Suriname Trade & Industry Association (VSB) and the trade unions. The mission signalled the formal launch of planning with the tripartite partners for Suriname’s 3rd DWCP which seeks to improve the entrepreneurial climate and create productive, environmentally responsible employment in Suriname.

Suriname has been committed to the Decent Work Agenda since its inception. The country’s first DWCP for Suriname was signed by the tripartite partners and the ILO and covered the period 2014–2016. The second DWCP, covered the period 2019-2021 with a one-year extension to December 2022. The DWCP represents the tripartite commitment of Government, employers’ and workers’ organizations to achieve Suriname’s national development goals, as well as articulate a programme of action for three key areas in which the ILO’s collaboration with the tripartite partners is expected to lead to positive changes in the world of work:

1. Economic diversification and social progress;
2. Strengthening the rights and compliance agenda; and
3. Increased tripartite capacity to advance the Decent Work Agenda and social dialogue.

As part of its commitment to supporting the transition from DWCP II to DWCP III, the ILO will coordinate a stock-taking exercise with tripartite partners on the progress made, continued challenges and lessons learnt, which will need to be considered moving forward.


(In Photo, from left to right: Naomi Esajas-Friperson, Deputy Director, Labor Market, Ministry of Labor, Employment and Youth Affairs, Suriname, Ingerlyn Caines-Francis, Senior Programme Officer, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, Dennis Zulu, Director, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, Honourable Steven Mac Andrew, Minister of Labor, Employment and Youth Affairs, Suriname, Lars Johansen, Deputy Director, ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean, Glenn Piroe, Ministry of Labor, Employment and Youth Affairs, Suriname, Jimmy Belfor, Director of Labor, Ministry of Labor, Employment and Youth Affairs, Suriname and Rowan Noredjo, Inspector General Labor Inspectorate, Ministry of Labor, Employment and Youth Affairs, Suriname).