By Loretta B Manele
Solomon Islands National Employment Policy (NEP) will really look into the availability and quality of jobs.
Christian Viegelahn, Employment Specialist for the Pacific from the International Labour Organization (ILO) expressed this to the media on the final day of the two-day “Solomon Islands National Employment Policy” validation workshop which ended on Wednesday this week at the Heritage Park Hotel.
He said this policy is really looking at having jobs available while also considering the quality of these jobs.
Viegelahn stated that it is important that jobs are available for everyone as well as for Solomon Islanders who take on jobs in countries like Australia and New Zealand.
In relation, he said this is why the aspect of working conditions is something that they have various dimensions to consider when discussing the issue of labour mobility.
Viegelahn added that there is also pre-departure training to workers so that they are aware of their labour rights and are informed of what they expect in their destination countries so they are well prepared should they observe or encounter any labour rights or violation of any type.
He said their main counterpart in this policy initiative is the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration (MCILI) given that they have a labour division and all their conversations will go to the government through this channel.
Viegelahn stressed that when they support a country in developing a national employment policy, what they certainly suggest and strongly propose is to have all stakeholders on board so they have a role in promoting employment.
“Employment is such a cross-cutting issue and literally involves every government department, but then of course it’s also important to have employer representatives, worker representatives involved as well as representatives of civil society.
So, I think it’s really important to have all these voices heard and all these inputs taken on board.”
Viegelahn explained that this is why in the current draft of the policy document, they have action plans to really provide very concrete guidance on which institution is responsible for certain actions that are part of the policy, as well as a time plan.
He mentioned that it would then be upon the government and consultation with employers and workers to implement the policy and as an international aid organization they will stand ready to provide support employers and workers to implement the policy.
“Certainly, we as an international aid organization do stand ready to provide support or to have discussions on how we can support effective implementation as well.”
Viegelahn said the workshop triggered very vivid discussions and gave them a lot of inputs and they will look at the draft document and try to consider and factor in the comments received from the workshop.
He furthered that he understands that the Solomon Islands government and the Commission of Labour plans to actually take this policy document to the provinces as well.
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