Intersessional meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States
Regulation and commitment to international standards critical to addressing labour market challenges in SIDS
Economic growth is a primary driver of job creation. But growth alone does not always translate into more and decent jobs.
25 April 2014
Intersessional meeting of the Preparatory Committee
for the third International Conference on Small
Island Developing States
24 April 2014
Statement by: Ms. Amber Barth
Mr. Co-Chair,
Thank you for giving me the floor to offer some comments and clarifications on the specific employment related paragraphs contained in the current draft. I will limit myself to four specific points related to employment, green jobs, skills and data.
In the ILO’s nearly 100 years of experience it has consistently been proven that while economic growth is certainly a pre-condition for job creation, growth does not automatically translate into more and decent jobs. For instance, in the Pacific SIDS youth unemployment has climbed to an alarming 23 per cent, despite positive economic growth rates. High unemployment is only part of the challenge. For many SIDS, vulnerable and informal jobs remain the only work available. In most cases, those jobs entail low pay, limited job security, poor working conditions and little or no social protection. Deliberate efforts are needed to address these labour market challenges in tandem with the application of sound macroeconomic policies. The draft outcome document rightly acknowledges that enterprises can provide the economic engine for growth, but it must be emphasized that they will only thrive if the right regulatory environment is in place and underpinned by a strong commitment to international labour standards.
SIDS face an undeniable challenge of addressing the impacts of climate change while also striving to attain decent work for all. This important linkage was addressed extensively in the Rio+20 outcome document, The Future We Want. Namely, paragraph 154 acknowledges, “the importance of efforts to promote the exchange of information and knowledge on decent work for all and job creation, including green jobs… to facilitate the integration of relevant data into national economic and employment policies”. This request was further elaborated during the June 2013 International Labour Conference, where governments, workers’ and employers’ unanimously adopted a resolution agreeing on the best ways to achieve decent work, green jobs and sustainable development. A number of Green Jobs projects, at the request of national governments, are already operational and plans are underway to expand programmatic support.
A skilled workforce goes hand in hand with economic growth. The question is not whether developing skills or creating jobs comes first. Both need to be pursued in a coherent, integrated manner to ensure that education and skills training is relevant to the demands of the labour market. While the draft outcome document addresses the need for improved education and skills, its linkage to the labour market may be strengthened.
SIDS must deal with numerous and increasingly difficult labour market challenges. Timely and accurate labour market information and analysis can help policymakers to better design, implement, monitor and evaluate national, sub-regional and regional socio-economic policies that promote full and productive employment and decent work for all. There is a great need to develop and conduct regular labour force surveys that produce internationally accepted and regionally harmonized labour market indicators.
The ILO has been promoting the internationally agreed Decent Work Agenda to help countries tackle these compounding labour market challenges. SIDS could greatly benefit if these related issues are addressed in clearer terms in the outcome document.
The ILO looks forward to further engagement in this process and stands ready to assist in your continued deliberations.
I thank you.
for the third International Conference on Small
Island Developing States
24 April 2014
Statement by: Ms. Amber Barth
Mr. Co-Chair,
Thank you for giving me the floor to offer some comments and clarifications on the specific employment related paragraphs contained in the current draft. I will limit myself to four specific points related to employment, green jobs, skills and data.
Employment
In the ILO’s nearly 100 years of experience it has consistently been proven that while economic growth is certainly a pre-condition for job creation, growth does not automatically translate into more and decent jobs. For instance, in the Pacific SIDS youth unemployment has climbed to an alarming 23 per cent, despite positive economic growth rates. High unemployment is only part of the challenge. For many SIDS, vulnerable and informal jobs remain the only work available. In most cases, those jobs entail low pay, limited job security, poor working conditions and little or no social protection. Deliberate efforts are needed to address these labour market challenges in tandem with the application of sound macroeconomic policies. The draft outcome document rightly acknowledges that enterprises can provide the economic engine for growth, but it must be emphasized that they will only thrive if the right regulatory environment is in place and underpinned by a strong commitment to international labour standards.
Green Jobs
SIDS face an undeniable challenge of addressing the impacts of climate change while also striving to attain decent work for all. This important linkage was addressed extensively in the Rio+20 outcome document, The Future We Want. Namely, paragraph 154 acknowledges, “the importance of efforts to promote the exchange of information and knowledge on decent work for all and job creation, including green jobs… to facilitate the integration of relevant data into national economic and employment policies”. This request was further elaborated during the June 2013 International Labour Conference, where governments, workers’ and employers’ unanimously adopted a resolution agreeing on the best ways to achieve decent work, green jobs and sustainable development. A number of Green Jobs projects, at the request of national governments, are already operational and plans are underway to expand programmatic support.
Education and Skills
A skilled workforce goes hand in hand with economic growth. The question is not whether developing skills or creating jobs comes first. Both need to be pursued in a coherent, integrated manner to ensure that education and skills training is relevant to the demands of the labour market. While the draft outcome document addresses the need for improved education and skills, its linkage to the labour market may be strengthened.
Data and Statistics
SIDS must deal with numerous and increasingly difficult labour market challenges. Timely and accurate labour market information and analysis can help policymakers to better design, implement, monitor and evaluate national, sub-regional and regional socio-economic policies that promote full and productive employment and decent work for all. There is a great need to develop and conduct regular labour force surveys that produce internationally accepted and regionally harmonized labour market indicators.
The ILO has been promoting the internationally agreed Decent Work Agenda to help countries tackle these compounding labour market challenges. SIDS could greatly benefit if these related issues are addressed in clearer terms in the outcome document.
The ILO looks forward to further engagement in this process and stands ready to assist in your continued deliberations.
I thank you.