The Government of the Republic of Kiribati is set to reform its labour laws and labour inspections processes after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Fiji and Kiribati at Holiday Inn today.
The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Jone Usamate said Kiribati will have a ‘decent work country program’ that will strengthen labour markets as a result of the technical assistance provided by the Fiji labour ministry.
The Minister said the program is for two years and will be in six stages between July 2012 and June 2014.
The six stages include:
- Scoping mission and presentation of the scoping mission report
- Labour inspection system review and design of modern labour inspection system
- Training and development component (capacity building)
- Overarching labour reform – Review of existing labour policies, labour laws, labour market institutions, values and practices
- Presentation of draft policies, law as and proposed institutions as recommendations to relevant stakeholders for consultations; and
- Facilitate promotion and implementation of approved new labour policies and laws for the Government of Kiribati and relevant stakeholders.
“The MOU will give an opportunity for Fiji to share knowledge and experience in the areas of labour reforms. It ensures that Kiribati’s policy, laws and institutions and practices are modernized to provide the people and workplaces proper guidelines for effective employment relations and enhance the outlook and functioning of the national labour market and labour inspection in Kiribati”, Minister Usamate said.
Kiribati’s Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development, Honorable Boutu Bateriki said Kiribati needs a legislative piece in place to address labour mobility.
“We need to align ourselves with the International Labour Organisation guidelines and buld decent work agenda of ILO,” Minister Bateriki said.
The Kiribati minister said there is a need for a strong labour legislation as his staff have little knowledge of labour inspection and is looking forward for the assistance form Fiji.
“We share similar issues and can gain from cultural exchange as Fiji has experience in labour with reviews of its laws and a good system in place.”
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