I am delighted to be here with you to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Kiribati and the Government of the Republic of Fiji.

First, I would like to pay tribute to the governments and people of Fiji and Kiribati for taking this initiative.

This type of Agreement we are witnessing here today is often referred to as South-south cooperation. South-South cooperation, loosely defined is an exchange of expertise between governments, organizations and individuals in developing nations, is gaining importance and momentum.

South-South cooperation is a manifestation of solidarity among the countries and peoples of the South that contributes to their national well-being, national and collective self-reliance, and the attainment of internationally agreed development goals and standards. It is not a substitute for official development assistance, but as a partnership among equals based on solidarity.

Let me address why there is a growing interest in and demand for South-South cooperation. One of the most pressing challenges confronting all of us who work in development, is aid-effectiveness to improve the quality and quantity of capacity building support.  A growing number of voices are questioning the effectiveness of sending Western experts to provide technical assistance based on best practices from highly developed countries.  More emphasis is now being given to the transfer of contextually relevant lessons and experience between developing countries – particularly from Middle Income Countries with successful track records in addressing challenges common to developing countries. 

As Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General of the United Nations, “South-South cooperation can achieve results on the ground in ways that traditional development assistance may not because of countries’ geographical proximity, cultural and historical ties, or similar development paths.  States that have paved the way for their own development in the last decade or two have much to share, especially in terms of expertise and experience, with those currently facing similar challenges.”

Let me now turn to the specific of the agreement which is in the technical areas of Occupation Health and Safety and Labour Inspections. The ILO has been following these discussions for a number of years. The initiative arose from the government of Kiribati and I commend them for their foresight and initiative. They recognized the need and wanted to improve their labour inspection services. They look around the Pacific for a partner. Not a partner that is perfect but a partner that is accessible, who understands the Kiribati society and economy and one who has proven record of improving labour inspection services in their own country. They identified Fiji to be their equal partner. Fiji accepted the challenge, and opportunity.

The benefits to Kiribati are clear they will get to learn how Fiji developed it Occupation health and safety labour inspection policies, legislation, programmes and services.

But what are the benefits to Fiji? I think the benefits are broadly two-fold:

Firstly Fiji will improve their understanding of their own policies and programmes. Education researchers have long known that:

The least effective way to learn something is to listen to a lecture on the topic or read information about it.

The most effective way to learn something is to teach others and use it in our own lives.

Fiji as a teacher will learn more about their own successes, failures and challenges. We know that industrial relations is at a difficult juncture in Fiji. I am hopefully that the Fiji government and its social partners will, by reflecting on their proud and substantial progress over the past years, will reactive their successful social dialogue structures and processes that have the potential to resolve important economic and social issues, encourage good governance, advance social and industrial peace and stability and boost economic progress.

Secondly, Fiji has the opportunity to learn from Kiribati. For example Kiribati has recently recognized the benefits of and has ratified the Maritime Labour Convention and now looking to put in place the necessary systems. Fiji for some time has been considering the ratification of Maritime Labour Convention. I am sure that an exchange of experiences on this subject would be useful.

Developing countries have the primary responsibility for promoting and implementing South-South cooperation, not as a substitute for but rather as a complement to North-South cooperation. The international community including the ILO, must support the efforts of the developing countries to expand South-South cooperation. Only this week in the ILO Governing Body meeting in Geneva, one of the subjects being considered is a strategy to expand South-South cooperation initiatives.

The ILO’s involvement in South-South cooperation dates back to 1987, with the signing of an agreement between the Government of Brazil and the ILO to undertake technical cooperation with other countries in Latin America and Africa. Since those days the ILO has witnessed, facilitated and supported many similar to provide interested ILO Member States with TC in the implementation of the Decent Work Agenda.

Throughout these years of continued work between the ILO and partner governments, the concrete results of these experiences can be readily identified, and their success has intensified the ILO’s commitment and impact regarding South-South.

In both Kiribati and Fiji and Fiji the ILO has Decent work Country Programmes, that are currently being reviewed and in both countries will be revised this year. In Kiribati the ILO has undertaken work in areas of Social protection, youth employment, Occupation health and safety and we are currently undertaking a legislative assessments with respect to the application of fundamental, priority and ratified Conventions. There is also new important work being undertaken in the areas of minimum wages, in which the ILO developed and delivered options for a minimum wage framework with broad application and specified objectives for consideration by Government and the Decent Work Agenda Steering Committee. Different but similar work has been undertaken in Fiji over many years.

All of this work must be seen as a compliment to the South-South cooperation agreement. As we are reviewing the Decent work Country Programmes this year, I hope and expect that we can included into our work plans on-going support to this initiative that we are witnessing today.

The ILO along with its other development partners is working to build a sustainable future and a fair globalization creating opportunities for all. The Decent Work Agenda – with its four interconnected pillars of employment, rights at work, social dialogue and social protection – is the ILO main means of action. To achieve this goal the ILO needs partners who are determined and committed.

Today, the Honourable Ministers for Fiji and Kiribati, have shown they and their countries are true partners in the global challenge for Decent Work.

I thank them for this opportunity to be here today and I pledge ILO’s support to support the success for this agreement.

For further information please contact:
Edward Bernard
Programme Officer
ILO Country Office for South Pacific Island Countries
Tel: +679 3313410
Email