The Blue Pacific Big Ocean States (BPBOS) Labour Platform plays a critical role in unifying the Pacific region regarding labor and employment issues, as well as International Labour Organization (ILO) agendas. This platform was established in 2019 during a meeting of ILO Pacific member states, represented by labour ministers in Papua New Guinea.
Fiji was the first country elected to chair the BPBOS at that meeting and continues to hold this position under the leadership of the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations. The Government of Cook Islands is responsible for the Secretariat role.
Agni Deo Singh, the current Chair of BPBOS, emphasized the importance of this labour platform in enhancing the visibility and voice of Pacific nations at the International Labour Conference and within the Asia Pacific Group. He noted that the Labour Ministers, during the last Pacific Tripartite High-Level Forum in 2019, stressed the need for a unified voice in international discussions on issues affecting the Pacific, particularly concerning decent work, employment matters, and climate change.
To further the objectives of the BPBOS, a successful two-day meeting was held on August 26-27, 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand, to review the draft Terms of Reference for the BPBOS Labour Ministers’ Platform.
Minister Singh recognized the dedication and contributions of the Cook Islands government as the Secretariat, highlighted by the attendance of Anne Herman, Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Miriama Herman, a Social Impact Fund Officer. He also expressed gratitude to the ILO Office for Pacific Island countries for funding the meeting and their ongoing support in fostering social justice among ILO Pacific member states.
Minister Singh attended the meeting alongside Deputy Secretary for Employment Atish Kumar and Senior Ministerial Liaison Officer Elina Vuniwa, with robust support from the Fiji High Commission and Fiji’s Trade Office in New Zealand.