Project Assistant

Pacific Island Countries (PICs) face daunting development challenges. Their labour markets feature high underemployment, high levels of informality, gender disparity in labour market participation, and youth unemployment. They face major economic challenges, including distance from major markets, mixed economic growth, labour migration, skills shortages, exposure to climate change and limited avenues to create employment and foster entrepreneurship. Effective implementation of international labour standards could significantly improve their ability to address these interlinked challenges.

International labour standards (ILS) are the globally acknowledged benchmark for minimum working conditions, and for effective labour market governance. They serve as a minimum floor for fair competition in an increasingly globalised economy. ILS provide policy guidance on how to address some of the most pressing human rights breaches, and key challenges in national labour markets.

Effective implementation of ILS is positively associated with increased employment and GDP growth, improved human development outcomes, and reduced inequality. Both private and public donors and investors increasingly consider the extent to which ILS are implemented in potential investment destinations. For developing economies, this is crucial for attracting and maintaining sufficient levels of foreign direct investment.

Severe capacity deficits constrain PICs from realising the positive benefits of implementing ILS. Many are nevertheless willing to do so. This project will build capacity, knowledge, and consensus on how to implement ILS so as to address some of the key development and labour market challenges.

Reporting Line:

The Project Assistant will report to and technically supervised by the International Labour Standards Specialist, CO-Suva. The Project Assistant will work in close collaboration with ILO specialists and programme officers in CO-Suva.

Description of Duties: