Vanuatu Trade Unions: Building Back Better
Members of the Vanuatu Council of Trade Unions (VCTU) participated in workshop facilitated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and funded by the Government of Japan, through the Social Safety Net Project.
One of the main objectives of the workshop was to identify Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies to reduce loss of income of workers and disruptions to union operations to support workers, in future disasters. According to the Vanuatu Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report launched by government, it is estimated that Cyclone Pam has affected directly and indirectly the livelihoods of about 40,800 households or 195,000 people and a total of 504,050 work days or VT 1.6 billion of personal income have been lost.
VCTU members with ILO Officials and JICA representative.
n closing the workshop, the chief quest, Mr Toyoaki Itsubu, Resident Representative of JICA Vanuatu Office, expressed his appreciation to the VCTU and ILO in organising the important workshop and contributing to the overall recovery programme in Vanuatu.
“Cyclone Pam was a learning curve for workers and this workshop is critical to understand what role unions can play prior to, during and after the disaster”, said Ms Lorain Bani, President of the VCTU. She further added that through this workshop, they have collectively come up with a few strategies to build back better and safer, to better prepare them for future disasters.
Mr Arun Kumar, the ILO Senior Specialist for Workers Activities delivered the training. “The training also included Labour Law, OHS, Collective Bargaining and Organising. However, with reference to disasters, policies and programmes that support all workers and have far reaching impact should be in place”, said Mr Kumar.
“This training is part of ILO’s overall technical assistance provided to its tripartite partners and is linked to national development plans, including governments recovery framework”, said Mr Edward Bernard, the ILO Programme Officer responsible for Vanuatu. He further added that the ILO will continue to work with its social partners and government institutions to strengthen its programmes in the recovery phase to achieve maximum employment and social protection outcomes.
VCTU members with ILO Officials and JICA representative.n closing the workshop, the chief quest, Mr Toyoaki Itsubu, Resident Representative of JICA Vanuatu Office, expressed his appreciation to the VCTU and ILO in organising the important workshop and contributing to the overall recovery programme in Vanuatu.
“Cyclone Pam was a learning curve for workers and this workshop is critical to understand what role unions can play prior to, during and after the disaster”, said Ms Lorain Bani, President of the VCTU. She further added that through this workshop, they have collectively come up with a few strategies to build back better and safer, to better prepare them for future disasters.
Mr Arun Kumar, the ILO Senior Specialist for Workers Activities delivered the training. “The training also included Labour Law, OHS, Collective Bargaining and Organising. However, with reference to disasters, policies and programmes that support all workers and have far reaching impact should be in place”, said Mr Kumar.
“This training is part of ILO’s overall technical assistance provided to its tripartite partners and is linked to national development plans, including governments recovery framework”, said Mr Edward Bernard, the ILO Programme Officer responsible for Vanuatu. He further added that the ILO will continue to work with its social partners and government institutions to strengthen its programmes in the recovery phase to achieve maximum employment and social protection outcomes.