Dr Singh Praises Fiji for Driving Regional Labour Ministers’ Initiative

University of the South Pacific academic Dr Shailendra Singh has praised Fiji’s leadership in advancing the establishment of a regional Pacific Labour Ministers’ Meeting, describing its endorsement by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders as a significant achievement.

Dr Singh said the initiative had come at an important time, given the scale and complexity of labour and employment challenges facing Fiji and other Pacific Island countries.

“Solid work by the Ministry, and good to see Fiji taking leadership in this critical regional initiative,” Dr Singh said.

He congratulated Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh, Permanent Secretary Nemani and the Ministry team for their persistence in progressing the initiative.

Dr Singh said many Pacific countries were losing skilled workers and human capital at concerning levels, with potential long-term consequences for sustainable development.

He said a coordinated regional approach could help countries address common challenges including labour mobility, skills shortages, climate change, technological transformation and social protection.

Dr Singh also called for youth employment to feature prominently on the agenda of the new regional forum.

“The Pacific youth bulge is still around and poses a major challenge,” he said.

He pointed to Singapore as an example of a country that had invested heavily in education, technical and vocational training and the continuous development of its workforce.

Dr Singh said the Pacific could draw lessons from Singapore’s focus on developing human capital and ensuring its workforce remained educated, skilled and productive.

“Since skills and labour are the backbone of development, the Pacific Labour Ministers Meeting is a landmark achievement of historic significance,” he said.

The establishment of the regional Labour Ministers’ Meeting was endorsed by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders following sustained efforts by Fiji to strengthen regional cooperation on labour and employment issues.

Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh is Chair of the Pacific Labour Ministers’ Meeting, while Employment Permanent Secretary Nemani is Chair of the Pacific Senior Labour Officials’ Meeting.