The two days induction workshop held at Mendana Hotel for the Labour Advisory Board Members and Labour Apprenticeship Board Members had successfully ended on the 20 of July 2016.

These two days’ workshop was delivered and Facilitated by the international Labour Organization, in collaboration with the office of the Commissioner for Labour in Solomon Islands.

The Work shop was formally opened by the Minister of Commerce, Labour, Immigration and Industries (MCILI), Mr. Elijah Doro Muala, and officially closed by his Permanent Secretary (PS) Mr. George Kosui.

In the Minister’s opening remarks, the minister highlighted the importance for members of the Labour Advisory Board to undergo such training in their preparation towards executing the statutory functions assigned to them under the labour Legislation.

According to the Minister, the establishment of the Labour Advisory board marks a new makeup for dialogue between workers, employers and government on regular basis for positive economic production in the country.

The Minister urges the participants to be able to get a deep knowledge on the subjects that will be covered during the workshop, in order for members to developing a shared understanding to deliberate on the Labour Advisory Board Rules and practical implementations of the Rules in the day to day functions of the Board.

On the first day, the workshop begins with sessions that covers tripartite social dialogue, Roles and responsibilities of participants in tripartite social dialogue and the role of stakeholders, Legal and institutional frameworks, planning the Solomon Islands Tripartite Labour Advisory Board’s work. This session was facilitated by the International Labor Law Specialist for ILO, Mrs. Ann Boyd and assisted by Bimlesh Raj of ILO, as well as some contribution on the legal provision of Labor Laws in Solomon Islands, by the office of the Commissioner of Labor.

On the second day the board members are able to learn and grasp the Labour Law Review, Planning processes for a Labour Law Review, Reporting on ratified ILO Conventions and relevance to Labour law review processes, and minimum wage review processes.

The workshop was successfully ended with an official remark from the PS, who highlighted the seriousness of the Ministry to have such a powerful board exist within one of his Ministry’s Division.

Kosui also reiterates the importance of the Board, and wish to acknowledge the ILO for the support rendered to Labour Division to have this workshop for members of the board.

According to Kosui, the coverage of the workshop further highlighted some objectives of the DCCG government for fulfillment at the end of the year. These are; the establishment of new Legal Minimum Wage rate and the Legal Minimum Wage Policy.

“I am happy to see some progress made by the division on the DCCG Objectives for this year” Mr. Kosui cited.

The Workshop ended with a small function.

By John A'atai.