SIDS4: ILO Caribbean calls for greater integration of decent work in resilience policies
Mission also included meetings with Antigua and Barbuda tripartite constituents to identify areas for support.
3 June 2024
ILO Caribbean Director Dr Joni Musabayana was among regional leaders who gathered for the 4th UN International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) to discuss charting a more resilient future for island nations.
Hosted by the United Nations in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda from 27 to 30 June 2024, the global event focused on enabling SIDS to achieve the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, particularly as they find themselves on the frontline of the climate crisis.
As part of a conference side event on 27 May, “Building resilience through fostering green productive capacities, economic diversification and decent jobs”, Dr Musabayana appeared alongside Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and other high-level panelists to discuss solutions to unprecedented climate challenges faced by SIDS that have been exacerbated by vulnerabilities such as their coastal borders and small economies. During the conversation, he emphasized that policies aligned with the principles of decent work are essential for helping the region mitigate the impacts of such risks on workers and employers.
“It cannot be understated that decent work should be at the foundation of policies that seek to support the prevention of, recovery from and resilience to environmental disasters faced by our Member States in The Caribbean. Such policies should prioritize and sustain measures for decent employment, including social protection, to minimize disruptions to livelihoods and productivity,” explained Dr Musabayana.
While at the conference, Dr Musabayana joined a session led by the the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) to discuss opportunities for fostering a resilient and productive private sector in Caribbean SIDS.
Following SIDS4, Dr Musabayana and members of the Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean met with tripartite constituents to identify priority areas where ILO support is needed.
Discussions included the Honourable Steadroy C. Benjamin, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Public Safety and Labour; Karl Spencer, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Employers’ Federation; David Massiah, General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU); Wigley George, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union (ATLU); and Janela Evanson, General Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Public Service Association (ABPSA).
The meetings with constituents also provided opportunities to look closely at International Labour Standards (ILO Conventions and Recommendations) and reporting obligations for Antigua and Barbuda. Through an examination of the ILO's NORMLEX database, the ILO team offered practical guidance on how to view their country profile and access comments from supervisory bodies.
More information about the ILO’s work in Antigua and Barbuda is available at: https://www.ilo.org/antigua-and-barbuda