Majuro (ILO NEWS) - The ILO has successfully completed its weeklong mission to the Marshall Islands which included a 2-day workshop on developing RMI’s National Employment Policy (NEP). The Seminar for the Development of an RMI National Employment Policy for Inclusive Economic Diversification and Environmental Sustainability was held on the 02nd and 3rd of March at the Marshall Islands Resort and brought together government agencies, private sector organisations and NGOs to discuss key issues and priorities that would inform the development of the RMI National Employment Policy.

The Office of the Chief Secretary coordinated stakeholder involvement in the seminar ensuring high level agency participation as much as possible. In opening the workshop, Honorable Jiba B. Kabua, Acting Minister in Assistance to the President, noted the importance of such a policy in ensuring a pathway for youth not just in urban areas, but also in rural areas and communities to encourage skills development.

The development of the NEP is part of ILO’s ongoing technical assistance being provided to RMI post COVID19. ILO Director for Pacific Island Countries, Mr. Matin Karimli noted that this has not been the first time that ILO had provided such support. “ILO conducted a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) after the 2015-2016 drought here in the Marshall Islands. From that PDNA, ILO supported various activities aimed at recovery and long-term resilience including working on the National Action Plan for Youth Employment (2017-2019). We have also worked closely with the government to include labour force survey modules into the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) for RMI that was recently published, and we look forward to the work that the government is doing on the skills assessment through the NTC.”

Mr. Karimli further noted that “the development of the NEP and the NEP itself must be a demand driven process. The ILO is here to support the people of RMI and areas that you want to focus on therefore it is important that you identify what key areas the NEP will work on for the next 5 to 10 years, including in youth employment. This is building resilience now and for future generations and we stand ready to support this”.

The discussions at the workshop were facilitated by Christian Viegelahn, ILO Employment Specialist, who also informed the participants on the next steps regarding the development of the NEP. The process will be done in close partnership with the Office of the Chief Secretary in RMI and the Division of Labour working closely with stakeholders in country conducting targeted consultations with all partners in due course.