The Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour works in collaboration with the Tautai Governance Group Project (donor partner) to develop the first National Occupational Safety and Health Policy in Samoa. This project has been proceeded in phases and the stakeholder’s consultations were conducted for two days in Upolu on the 3rd and 4th December at the DBS Conference room and one day for Savaii businesses on 8th December at SSAB Conference room.
Session 1 in Upolu on 3.12.25
Close to 200 invited stakeholders from the Samoa National Tripartite Forum; National OSH Taskforce; Government Ministries and agencies; companies, businesses and organizations from the private sector; civil societies and International Organizations participated in the initiative.
The Ministry managed to stream live all the three sessions on the Ministry’s Facebook page for those who could not attend in person and for the stakeholders who were not invited due to the limited resources and facility capacity. Since OSH is critical and crucial in the development of our economy; the well-being of our people is highly considered in the workforce, these approaches were utilized by the Ministry to ensure a broader coverage and awareness especially employers and employees in the high-risk industries (construction, manufacturing, etc)
This work is led by a local Technical Adviser (TA) Mr Lilomaiava Albert Meredith who is currently residing in New Zealand with the assistance of the Industrial Relations, Employment Permit and the Occupational, Safety and Health Division of the Ministry. The main objective and purpose of the consultation was to present the draft OSH profile to the stakeholders for their comments including the identification of gaps and opportunities which will feed into the development of the NOSH Policy.
The sessions highlighted the main concepts of the OSH system in Samoa which are proposed to be included in the policy, the application of the ratified international conventions, the obligations of employer to employee relationships, cross cutting issues such as climate change, cyberbully, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology and other obligations reflected in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2002, and its OSH Regulations 2017.
Participants have shared commitments and approached the policy with great interest realizing its vitality in all working environment. Feedbacks were aligned with the TA recommendations of improving OSH Management systems in Samoa, provision of adequate and regular awareness programs to improve workplace culture of safety and health, the need for funding to support all businesses and organization to provide for OSH equipment and resources, extension of the SNTF and the NOSH Taskforce membership to other organizations, and the challenge of limited legal jurisdiction and authority of OSH inspectors to enforce certain part of the OSH legislation. The policy aims to minimize workplace accidents and illnesses and if possible isolate hazards and risks causing injuries and illnesses in the workplaces throughout Samoa. There are also one-on-one sessions carried out on the 9th – 11th December 2025 with stakeholders of government agencies, the World Health Organization office as an international partner, as well as employers and employee organizations.
Session 2 in Upolu on 4.12.25
The ministry is targeting February 2026 to receive the first draft and operationalize through government policy development channels before final endorsement by the Cabinet through the Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour.
Session 3 in Savaii on 8.12.25
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