–Samoa’s Prime Minister, Honorable Fiamē Naomi Maata’afa
addressed the International Labour Organization Global Forum for a Human-centred
Recovery that took place on 22-24 February.
In her virtual address on 24 February, the Prime Minister welcomed the ILO’s Global
Call to Action for a Human-Centred Recovery from the COVID19 crisis, that is inclusive,
sustainable, and resilient. She said, “it is critical that we commit to pursue a strong and
coherent global response in support of Member States’ crisis response and recovery
strategies, including through joint initiatives and enhanced institutional arrangements
among international and regional organizations.”
Speaking on the climate action, the Prime Minister highlighted Samoa’s commitment
towards a ‘Just Transition’ and the need for genuine efforts by all to ensure that the
creation of decent employment was at the core of climate action.
Samoa and Pacific Island States are continuing to address the vulnerabilities that exist
due to climate change and its impacts on employment in key economic sectors such as
agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and tourism.
Samoa, together with other countries of the Blue Pacific Big Ocean states are
frontliners of the adverse effects of climate change. However, global agreements and
under the auspices of the ILO, has taken considerable measures to manage the
impacts of climate change on jobs and workforce.
Honorable Fiame emphasized that national and international solidarity in the
implementation of just transition and reshaping enabling environment incentives and
requirements towards carbon pricing and financial regulation, were crucial to realize
the vision of minimizing the impacts of climate change on environments, economies
and even to their own survival.
The Prime Minister also referred to the Global Accelerator on jobs and social Protection
for a Just Transition, launched at the United Nations General Assembly in September
2021 as a demonstration of collective commitment but most importantly it speaks
about inclusiveness and enabling the voices of the Pacific to be heard loudly and clearly
and to be followed by deliberate actions.

For Samoa and the Blue Pacific Big Ocean States, committing to the Just Transition to
carbon and neutral economies also means ensuring greater protection for our
workers, improved social protection for our people, and greater inclusion for youth,
women, and girls at all levels.
Honorable Fiame acknowledge the work and support of the ILO, in furthering Samoa
and the Pacific’s efforts towards inclusive, full, and productive employment.
She said Samoa will continue to uphold commitments to decent work through
improved labour standards built on the foundation of their culture and heritage
perpetuating social harmony in the region. And will continue to observe the guidelines
of greening the economies for more opportunities to accelerate economic growth and
generate decent jobs that will contribute significantly to poverty reduction and social
inclusion.

Note to Editors | About the Forum
Honorable Prime Minister addressed the forum on behalf of Samoa and as the Co-chair
of the International Advisory Board for Climate Action for Job Initiatives (CA4JI) that was
established to support the Paris Agreement on Climate Change adopted in 2015.
The Forum was organized as a follow-up to a decision by the International Labour
Conference in 2021 for global call to action for human-centred recovery from the
Covid-19 crisis that is inclusive sustainable and resilient. In it, Governments, Workers
and Employers from ILO’s 187 members states committed to pursue a strong and
coherent global response in support of members human-centred recovery strategies
that are inclusive, sustainable, and resilient, including through joint initiatives and
enhanced institutional arrangements among international and regional organizations.