Employment Ministry Pushes for Workers’ Protection in Fiji’s Climate Plans

The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations is participating in the Pre-COP31 discussions in Nadi for the first time, placing greater emphasis on protecting workers, creating employment opportunities and preparing Fiji’s workforce for the impacts of climate change.

Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Maritino Nemani, said climate change was no longer just an environmental concern but an issue directly affecting jobs, livelihoods, workplace safety and productivity.

“Climate change affects where people work, how they work and the conditions under which they work. It affects livelihoods, workplace safety, productivity, skills requirements and ultimately the ability of families to earn a living,” Nemani said.

He stressed that the Ministry must be involved in climate discussions because decisions made today would have long-term consequences for workers and employers.

A key focus of the discussions is the concept of a Just Transition, which aims to ensure that the shift towards environmentally sustainable economies creates decent jobs while protecting workers and communities affected by economic changes.

For Fiji and other Pacific Island nations, the issue is particularly important as workers continue to face the effects of severe weather, rising temperatures, natural disasters and other climate-related disruptions.

However, the transition towards a greener economy also presents opportunities for new industries, sustainable employment and skills development.

Nemani said Fiji must ensure its workforce is adequately prepared to benefit from these emerging opportunities.

“A Just Transition means that our workers cannot be an afterthought. They must be part of the conversation from the beginning,” he said.

“As new industries develop and existing industries adapt, we need to look ahead at the skills our people will require, how we protect workers during periods of change and how we ensure the opportunities created by the transition translate into decent and sustainable employment.”

The Ministry’s participation also supports ongoing work on Fiji’s National Employment Policy, which identifies climate resilience as an important factor in shaping the country’s employment future.

Nemani said stronger collaboration between Government, employers, workers and regional partners would be essential in addressing the challenges ahead.

“Climate resilience must also mean workforce resilience,” he said.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that as Fiji responds to climate change, we are also preparing and protecting the people whose work will ultimately drive that transition.”

The Ministry says it will continue advocating for decent employment, stronger worker protection, skills development and greater worker participation in Fiji’s climate change response.