The Government of Fiji has validated the draft of its second National Employment Policy (NEP) and Action Plan, marking a key step in shaping a more inclusive and resilient labour market. Developed in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the policy establishes a strategic framework for fostering sustainable employment and addressing evolving challenges within the labour market.
The validation took place during a two-day workshop held on 12–13 June in Suva, which convened around 25 stakeholders from government ministries, employer and worker organizations, and civil society. The workshop served as a platform for refining the draft through collaborative dialogue and consensus-building, with the goal of securing joint ownership prior to formal adoption later in the year.
The NEP is accompanied by a concrete action plan and emphasizes collective implementation to ensure its success benefits workers, employers, and society as a whole. It aims to improve productivity, enhance working conditions, and broaden employment opportunities across Fiji.
Key strategic priorities outlined in the policy include improving job quality, formalizing and supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), advancing a just transition to a climate-resilient and green/blue economy, enhancing education and skills development, and harnessing digitalization and artificial intelligence for future-ready employment. Strengthening labour market information systems is also a core focus of the policy.
