The Minister for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Hon. Fata Ryan Schuster, accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer, Afioga Fepuleai Roger Toleafoa, was participating in the inaugural Pacific Senior Labour Officials Meeting and Labour Ministers Meeting (LMM) in Nadi, Fiji, from May 11-13, 2026.
Representing Samoa, the delegation joined counterparts from across the Pacific to operationalize a regional labour governance framework designed to strengthen employment cooperation under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
The forum, hosted by Fiji, focuses on the theme “Designing our Destiny: A Just and Resilient Future of Work for the Blue Pacific”. Key issues addressed by Minister Fata and CEO Toleafoa include:
- Labour Mobility & Skill Development: Enhancing frameworks to benefit Samoan workers and address regional workforce shortages.
- Occupational Health & Safety: Standardizing safety practices and protecting worker welfare across the Pacific region.
- Climate Change and Workforces: Developing proactive policies to build economic resilience for workers against climate disruptions.
“This meeting marks a vital step in transforming Pacific labour standards,” said CEO Fepuleai Roger Toleafoa. “MCIL is dedicated to ensuring Samoa’s labour policies are not only robust but also aligned with regional and international standards to promote fair work and economic growth.”
As the secretariat and chair to Samoa’s own Tripartite Forum, the Ministry is actively engaging with labour officials, workers’ representatives, and employers’ organizations to advance regional tripartite dialogue, ensuring inclusive policy development.
The outcomes of this conference will directly support the development of a coordinated regional position on employment and labour issues, contributing to the Pacific Islands Forum architecture.
