Minister Sawang was pleased to receive a courtesy call from Mr. Christian Viegelahn, the Officer-in-Charge of the International Labour Organisation Office for Pacific Islands Countries.
“I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Christian Viegelahn, the head of the International Labour Organisation Office for Pacific Islands Countries based in Suva, Fiji. I expressed my appreciation for the support that ILO has provided to Papua New Guinea.
“Our discussions focused on the collaboration between ILO and my Ministry and Department. I outlined my priorities were to: ensure alignment of Government’s labour policies with the Medium Term Development Plan IV; advance the review and updating of our labour laws; address the severe labour market data gaps that undermines evidence based policies; and to review the minimum wage. I sought support to improve the performance and efficiency of my department and the statutory offices that are accountable to my Ministry.
“I expressed my concern about protection and opportunities for our most vulnerable groups in the world of work – youth and women. I stressed that not only would I be championing SDG 8 Decent Work but also SDG 5 Gender Equality. The status of women and girls and their access to employment and other opportunities and ensuring equality of rights was pivotal to the development of Papua New Guinea and requires a cross-ministerial coordinated approach that I would promote.
“The current ILO support was discussed particularly around social protection, its joint EU STREIT Project, and labour law reform. The current framework for ILO’s support to Papua New Guinea was also discussed. It expires shortly and there is a need to work with our social partners – workers and employers, on a new plan to support both our country’s development aspiration and advance the achievement of the SDGs.
“I was pleased to advise of the Government’s plan to deposit the instruments of ratification of three ILO Conventions setting standards on labour inspections, tripartism and social dialogue, and violence and harassment next month.”
