The Blue Pacific Big Ocean States (BPBOS) Labour Platform is crucial for unifying the Pacific region under a single framework regarding labor and employment issues, as well as the International Labour Organization (ILO) agendas. Established in 2019 during a meeting with Labour Ministers from ILO Pacific member states in Papua New Guinea, Fiji was the first country elected to chair the platform and currently holds this position through the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations. The Government of Cook Islands serves as the Secretariat.
Agni Deo Singh, the current chair of the BPBOS, emphasized the platform’s importance in amplifying the voices of Pacific Islands at the International Labour Conference and the Asia Pacific Group. He noted the necessity for a unified voice from the Pacific in addressing pressing issues, such as decent work, labor/employment matters, and climate change, as discussed in the last Pacific Tripartite High-Level Forum in 2019.
To further the objectives of the BPBOS, a successful two-day meeting was held from August 26 to 27, 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand. This meeting focused on reviewing the draft Terms of Reference for the BPBOS Labour Ministers’ Platform and concluded with the successful completion of this review.
Minister Singh recognized the dedication and participation of the Cook Islands government in its role as the Secretariat, highlighted by the presence of Anne Herman, Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Miriama Herman, Social Impact Fund Officer. He also expressed gratitude to the ILO Office for the Pacific Island countries for its financial support and ongoing commitment to advancing social justice for Pacific Islands member states.
Singh was joined by the Deputy Secretary for Employment, Atish Kumar, and Senior Ministerial Liaison Officer, Elina Vuniwa, along with strong backing from the Fiji High Commission and Fiji’s Trade Office in New Zealand.