The inaugural Pacific Regional Tripartite Conference was officially opened on Monday by the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Wailoaloa, Nadi.
The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s presence in the Pacific.
Mr Rabuka said the conference marked a milestone in our region’s journey towards employment, security, and shared prosperity.
“We gather not only to chart a new course, but to honour 50 years of enduring partnership between the Pacific and the International Labour Organization (ILO),” he said.
“Over five decades, the ILO has stood by us, and our relationship has been grounded in the principle of tripartism — the equal partnership of governments, employers, and workers — and remains the cornerstone of resilient and inclusive development.
“Today, that spirit is alive in this room. We see ministers, policymakers, employers, workers, and our ILO partners — together, to forge a new, integrated approach to employment, decent work, climate resilience, human security, and labour mobility.
“We meet at a pivotal moment because we understand a fundamental truth: employment, security, labour mobility, and climate change are deeply interconnected forces reshaping the future of our Blue Pacific.”
The four-day conference is a partnership between the ILO and Fiji’s Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations.
Conference secretariat officials at the Crowne Plaza, Wailoaloa, Nadi. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
ILO and Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and workplace relations secretariate team at the Inaugural Pacific Employment Forum with International Labour Organization at Crowne Plaza, Wailoaloa, Nadi. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
Vanuatu’s Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat (fourth from left) and his delegation at the Crowne Plaza, Wailoaloa, Nadi. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
ILO regional director Kaori Nakamura-Osaka (left) receives a token of appreciation from permanent secretary for Employment Maritino Nemani. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka (left) and International Labour Organization’s regional director Kaori Nakamura-Osaka. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
Left picture – Grace Chynoweth (left) with Hon Tehani Brown and Anne Herman. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and International Labour Organization regional director Kaori Nakamura-Osaka (standing back row middle in garland) with participants of the Inaugural Pacific Regional Tripartite Conference at the Crowne Plaza, Wailoaloa, Nadi. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
Labour and Employment ministers from the Pacific are pictured with PM Sitiveni Rabuka and ILO’s regional director Kaori Nakamura-Osaka at the Crowne Plaza, Wailoaloa, Nadi.
Picture: BALJEET SINGH