SUVA (ILO News) – Governments' employers' and workers’ representatives from ILO’s eleven Pacific member States ( Cook Islands, Fiji , Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu) along with key stakeholders from the Pacific development community, gathered at the ILO high level dialogue on the Future of Work in the Pacific, where the President of Fiji, His Excellency Joji Konrote was the Chief Guest.

Participants discussed policies to address the transformations unfolding across the region's labour markets. They reviewed policy priorities for sustainable and inclusive development, including how to address the skills gap, foster entrepreneurship, enhance labour mobility, and develop the green economy in oceans, forests, agriculture and renewable energy.
 
Ms. Tomoko Nishimoto, ILO Assistant Director General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific said: “Decent work is the key to sustainable and inclusive societies in the Pacific. The ILO will support efforts taken by governments, employers and workers in the Pacific Islands Countries to help shape the future and ensure the collective voice and vision of the Pacific is heard in the International arena.”
 
Everywhere, including in the Pacific islands, the world of work is undergoing a major changes. There are several forces affecting it, from the impact of demographic change, the onward march of technology, impacts of climate change, labour migration, and to the evolving character of production processes. All of these have implications for employment.

While the future will undoubtedly bring new changes, the dependence on work for one’s livelihood and the effect of work on a person’s overall well-being will not change. It is thus incumbent on governments, as well as employers, workers and their organizations, through national, regional and international efforts, to focus on these challenges in the context of the future of work, with the goal of promoting decent work for all.

For more information please contact: Mr. Peter Blumel - peterb@ilo.org
Phone: +679 331 3866 / +679 9906560