O le ā lelepa ia fa’a va’atiu le mamalu o le saofa’iga, faigatā o lele ua pi’ioa le aleaga a Tautai pei o le fesilafa’iga i Si’utila ma Ululā. Auā e talitonu le taofi o Samoa ua uma ona tofi e leai fo’i se tautai e toe utuvaitofo i ai. O le ao e ma-i-mala, a o le ūa na fa’alanu-ma’ave’ave auā e sapi i lana tu ae tiu i lana aga.
Ae o le a fa’aauau atu se fa’amatalaga i le gagana Peretania, i le manulauti ma le faamoemoe o lenei afiafi ona o loo filogia le tatou mafutaga nei.
- Reverend Siaosi Salesulu
- Honourable Ministers of Cabinet & Associate Ministers
- ILO Pacific Region Country Director – Matin Karimli
- Members of the Diplomatic Corps
- SNTF Constituents, Stakeholders, and Implementing Partners of the Samoa National Employment Policy
- CEOs of Government Ministries and Heads of Private Sector Organisations
- Media Representatives; Ladies and Gentlemen
It is my pleasure to welcome you all this evening to witness this important event, the launching of the Samoa National Employment Policy 2021/2022- 2025/2026.
The Samoa National Employment Policy (or referred to as ‘SNEP’) is crucial and relevant to the economic development of our country. As we are in an era of changes, hence we need to design strategies and frameworks for employment that caters to the demand for labour both locally and internationally, and takes into consideration the capacity to supply skilful workers, decent employment creation, and taking advantage of emerging opportunities that will form the basis for a return to pre-COVID19 levels of employment and economic activities, in accordance with the requirements of our national Employment Policies, international standards and best practices.
The SNEP places emphasis on these fundamental pillars and aligns well with the Pathway for the Development of Samoa 2021/2022 – 2025/2026 which provides the strategic direction for the Government’s development initiatives over the next 4 years, with its focus on empowering communities, building resilience and inspiring growth.
The fact that this Policy was formulated and subject to wide consultation during a time of global uncertainty particularly with the impacts of Covid-19 on our region, economies and communities, makes it an ideal timing for its development and implementation. Hence, this is reflected in the Vision of the SNEP which is to “Recover, increase and sustain Samoa’s employment numbers to pre-COVID19 levels”.
As most of us know, COVID19 has detrimentally affected Private sector development in our country, and key sectors such as the tourism industry, transport and construction, health and education, and has adversely impacted on employment opportunities at all levels of our economy. The pressures and unpredictable nature of the Global pandemic, exacerbated by the adverse impacts of climate change and other global conflicts like the war between Russia and Ukraine which has affected global energy prices, continues to test our resolve as a nation, and we therefore, must adapt accordingly and be able to build back better and smarter.
We can achieve this by being proactive to develop and implement innovative processes and practical measures, to increase the employability of our unemployed population, to boost our economy to the next level. Hence, I am delighted tonight, to release the official published version of the Samoa National Employment Policy 2021/2022 – 2025/2026.
This second SNEP will enable us to consider new potential sectors, such as green jobs creation that compliments climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives, to promote more employment opportunities and boost productivity across all levels, and ease the constraints associated with Samoa’s remoteness from major labour markets.
The SNEP also focuses on those measures that can best be implemented through collective action by Key Implementing Agencies and Stakeholders and requires buy in from all government agencies and private entities.
I am aware that the Ministry in collaboration with the ILO has recently conducted a workshop with all implementing agencies on the expected roles for the successful implementation of the SNEP. I strongly recommend that these types of capacity building programs be continued, to equip all parties involved for better awareness and more contribution to the implementation of the SNEP, including a session with all development partners.
I acknowledge with gratitude the collaborative partnership, valuable assistance, financial and technical support provided by the International Labour Organization through the National ILO Coordinator and all stakeholders for their invaluable contributions to the development of the SNEP.
In order for us to move forward into the implementation of the three phases of the SNEP 2, and particularly the Recovery and Growth/Sustainable phases, this will require immense cooperation amongst leaders in the Government, non-government agencies and the private sector and communities. The Government of Samoa will ensure that mechanisms are in place, at the institutional and regulatory levels to support the implementation of the SNEP through a sound monitoring and evaluation process that will be in harmony with the collective actions by all agencies and stakeholders.
I wish everyone a pleasant evening in celebrating the launch of the SNEP, and all the best with the implementation work ahead of us.
SOIFUA MA IA MANUIA
