ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries launches report “Decent Work and Social Justice in Pacific Small Island Developing States - Challenges, Opportunities and Policy Responses”

To mark International Youth Day, The International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for Pacific Island Countries have launched a report, entitled “Decent Work and Social Justice in Pacific Small Island Developing States”.

Press release | Suva, Fiji | 12 August 2014
Suva (ILO News) – Decent work and social justice are building blocks for sustainable development. Productive employment that provides adequate livelihoods, social protection and respect for worker rights is an essential element of environmental, social and economic sustainability. While economic, social and labour market circumstances differ markedly, important decent work deficits exist in the majority of Pacific Small Island Developing States.

“The report gives us a fresh snapshot where things stand with respect to decent work in SIDS – pointing to some of the development hurdles that they face, including; high rates of unemployment, including youth unemployment and extensive under-employment, large informal sectors and heavy reliance on subsistence agriculture, and small private formal sector that often provides low quality jobs.” said Osnat Lubrani, United Nations Resident Coordinator & UNDP Representative - Fiji Multi-Country Office.

Director ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries, Mr. David Lamotte said “We decided to launch this report on the United Nations International Youth Day, because it is young women and young men that bear the future brunt of these decent work deficits.”

This report was prepared as a resource in the build up to the third UN Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference to be hosted by Samoa, from 1st to 4th September 2014.

The report provides a synopsis of decent work practices for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which remains a priority development goal. Good governance, rule of law and respect for human rights are a critical foundation for development and growth. A stable, fair and transparent system of governance permeates to all facets of decent work – ensuring a conducive environment for sustainable enterprises that support economic growth; enforcing fundamental rights of workers; improving their income and productivity, facilitating collective bargaining and social dialogue and protecting the most vulnerable workers.

“What captured my attention in this report, was the fact that it not only highlighted the issues and challenges, but also focuses on the opportunities and policy responses, which the small pacific island states could consider for implementation”. said Ms Tahere Siisiialafia, Pacific Youth Council (PYC)/Major Groups Children & Youth (MGCY) for SIDS.

Note: to view Ms. Siisiialafia audio video speech, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNg65qUIcro&feature=youtu.be