The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions (SICTU), representing a coalition of public sector workers, on Tuesday issues an urgent appeal to the Governing Coalition for National Unity and Transformation (GNUT) specifically the OUR Party, Solomon Islands People First Party, and Kandere Party to support the immediate creation of a Tripartite Secretariat reporting directly to the Prime Minister.
This body will address the critical failure of the current government to prioritize the review of outdated and underfunded Schemes of Service for public officers, including teachers, Police, Correctional Services, Doctors, Nurses, Allied Health Professionals, and General Public Service Officers.
SICTU National Secretary, Adrian Tuhanuku, states that the existing Schemes of Service lack career progression pathways, competitive remuneration, and weak mechanisms for skills development.
This has led to widespread inefficiency and a brain drain across essential sectors. Over the years Government failure to address this critical commitment by successive government to its workers resulted in declining service quality in healthcare, education, and public safety, directly impacting citizens’ well-being.
Despite SICTU’s repeated calls for inclusive policymaking as it appears workers through representation remain excluded from ministerial committees, SOE boards, and parliamentary standing committees where their futures are decided.
This unilateral approach violates the spirit of tripartism endorsed by the Ministry of Commerce and the Labour Advisory Board.
SICTU proposes a high impact body to spearhead reforms secretariat with equal representation from Government, Employers (via SICCI), and Workers (via SICTU affiliated unions), operating within the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and partnering with constitutional commissions (Public Service, Teaching Service, Police, Correctional, others).
Mandate of the secretariat includes conducting a nationwide review of all public sector Schemes of Service, align salaries, promotions, and welfare with modern labor standards and economic realities and Integrate skills development, workplace safety, and gender equity frameworks.
SICTU stated that Public officers kept Solomon Islands functioning through crises, yet their welfare is sidelined in GNUT policies therefore tripartism is not a concession but a right enshrined in ILO conventions and validated by Solomon Islands’ own National Employment Policy framework.
SICTU national secretary stated that tripartite model is our proven path to social justice. SICTU stand ready to work with the PMO and commissions but the GNUT’s coalition partners must first choose workers over complacency. Let them heed this call or face the consequences of a betrayed workforce.
– SICTU
