Tonga Advances First National Employment Policy with ILO Support

Tonga is making strides in developing its inaugural National Employment Policy with the assistance of the International Labour Organization (ILO), aiming to shape the nation's employment landscape for the future.

A recent two-day workshop held in Nuku'alofa on May 8-9, 2024, facilitated by the ILO, gathered around 40 representatives from various sectors including government agencies, trade unions, employer bodies, civil society, and academia. The workshop focused on enhancing stakeholders' policy development skills and charting a course for Tonga's employment future.

Participants delved into the intricacies of creating a robust policy framework and crafting a practical action plan. Key topics included leveraging labor market data for informed decision-making, supporting skills training, ensuring workplace rights and fair wages, and strategies for uplifting marginalized groups.

Kolotia Fotu, Deputy CEO of the Labour Division at the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, emphasized the workshop's importance in fostering collaboration among stakeholders to develop a national employment policy tailored to Tonga's unique labor market and development needs.

Christian Viegelahn, ILO Employment Specialist, underscored the significance of the employment policy in generating quality job opportunities, bolstering resilience against future crises, and aligning Tonga with emerging trends such as digitization and eco-friendliness, while addressing the impacts of climate change.

Tonga, like its Pacific Island counterparts, has faced economic challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and volcanic eruptions in 2023, impacting employment rates and shaping industry dynamics, skill requirements, and working conditions.

The initiative, supported by the ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries and funded by the Joint SDG Fund, signifies a crucial step forward for Tonga in shaping its employment landscape for sustained growth and development in the years ahead.