Apia (ILO News) –Samoa’s Prime Minister, Honorable Fiamē Naomi Maata’afa addressed the International Labour Organization Global Forum for a Human-centred Recovery that took place on 22-24 February.
In her virtual address on 24 February, the Prime Minister welcomed the ILO’s Global Call to Action for a Human-Centred Recovery from the COVID19 crisis, that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. She said, “it is critical that we commit to pursue a strong and coherent global response in support of Member States’ crisis response and recovery strategies, including through joint initiatives and enhanced institutional arrangements among international and regional organizations.”
Speaking on the climate action, the Prime Minister highlighted Samoa’s commitment towards a ‘Just Transition’ and the need for genuine efforts by all to ensure that the creation of decent employment was at the core of climate action.
Samoa and Pacific Island States are continuing to address the vulnerabilities that exist due to climate change and its impacts on employment in key economic sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and tourism.
Samoa, together with other countries of the Blue Pacific Big Ocean states are frontliners of the adverse effects of climate change. However, global agreements and under the auspices of the ILO, has taken considerable measures to manage the impacts of climate change on jobs and workforce.
Honorable Fiame emphasized that national and international solidarity in the implementation of just transition and reshaping enabling environment incentives and requirements towards carbon pricing and financial regulation, were crucial to realize the vision of minimizing the impacts of climate change on environments, economies and even to their own survival.
The Prime Minister also referred to the Global Accelerator on jobs and social Protection for a Just Transition, launched at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021 as a demonstration of collective commitment but most importantly it speaks about inclusiveness and enabling the voices of the Pacific to be heard loudly and clearly and to be followed by deliberate actions.
For Samoa and the Blue Pacific Big Ocean States, committing to the Just Transition to carbon and neutral economies also means ensuring greater protection for our workers, improved social protection for our people, and greater inclusion for youth, women, and girls at all levels.
Honorable Fiame acknowledge the work and support of the ILO, in furthering Samoa and the Pacific’s efforts towards inclusive, full, and productive employment.
She said Samoa will continue to uphold commitments to decent work through improved labour standards built on the foundation of their culture and heritage perpetuating social harmony in the region. And will continue to observe the guidelines of greening the economies for more opportunities to accelerate economic growth and generate decent jobs that will contribute significantly to poverty reduction and social inclusion.
Honorable Prime Minister addressed the forum on behalf of Samoa and as the Co-chair of the International Advisory Board for Climate Action for Job Initiatives (CA4JI) that was established to support the Paris Agreement on Climate Change adopted in 2015.
The Forum was organized as a follow-up to a decision by the International Labour Conference in 2021 for global call to action for human-centred recovery from the Covid-19 crisis that is inclusive sustainable and resilient. In it, Governments, Workers and Employers from ILO’s 187 members states committed to pursue a strong and coherent global response in support of members human-centred recovery strategies that are inclusive, sustainable, and resilient, including through joint initiatives and enhanced institutional arrangements among international and regional organizations.
