REMARKS: Director Programmes & Initiatives, Zarak Khan, at the Pacific Regional Technical Workshop on Labour Mobility Principles

•    Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations of Fiji, Mr. Jone Maritino Nemani
•     Esteemed Senior Government Officials, Private Sector Representatives Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), ladies and gentlemen,
•    On behalf of the Secretary General and the Senior Management Team at the Secretariat Ni sa Bula Vinaka, and a warm welcome to our shores for those of you that have travelled from their respective countries to be in attendance.
•    On behalf of the Secretary General it is an honour to address you at this important convening that sets to shape our Labour Mobility landscape as a region and as guided by Forum Trade Ministers and ultimately Forum Leaders in 2023 respectively. 
•    I begin by extending the Forum Secretariat’s appreciation to our partners ILO and IOM for their financial support towards making this consultation a reality, including their additional technical support for the virtual consultations held from 9 to 19 September 2024.
•    I commend you Esteemed Officials and important stakeholders for the valuable insights and inputs received during the virtual consultations most of which have been very instrumental in shaping our perspectives on key issues for consideration in so far as Labour Mobility principles are concerned.
•    The next few days will be a critical birthing moment for the region in terms of the direction the expected principles will take for the future of our Blue Continent; the alignment of the principles to the objectives of Vision 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent Importantly People -Centred Development.
•    Further, I wish to draw our attention to our Leaders guidance in Tonga on the importance of skilled labour thus the need for investment in education, and the need for clear definitions of roles and responsibilities including data from receiving countries to refine the principles and information on labour mobility.
•    As your Secretariat we are keen on adopting a ‘whole-of-stakeholder’ approach in this process to ensure the principles are a true reflection of priority areas of the region.
•    It is important to change our perspectives on Labour Mobility not just as a conduit of employment for sending countries but as a partnership between sending and receiving countries that sets to foster socio-economic development for both partners.
•    This approach is an accurate reflection of our ‘vuvale and talanoa’ spirit and key strategic pathways of the Vision 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent importantly inclusion, equity, partnership and cooperation.
•    Noting the depth of work that will be required in the development of the principles, the discussions should be guided by the following key issues:
i)    Key priorities to be presented to the Forum Trade Officials Meeting in November, as part of the development of the Regional Principles, noting Labour Mobility is a Standing Agenda item of the Secretariat;

ii)    Terms of Reference for the Informal Working Group including a Work Plan in terms of key activities between now and mid-2025.

iii)    Alignment and coordination importantly in light of implementation of the Principles including existing International Labour Standards

iv)    Key thematic areas (scope) that will inform the Regional Principles, including a clear definition of what constitutes Principles.
•    Thank you for your commitment and active participation, I wish you a fruitful and insightful deliberations
•    Vinaka Vakalevu.