1. FIJI AND CHINA DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE ADVOCACY-China has pledged its support towards Fiji’s climate change advocacy in the region following talks this week between the Fijian Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee – National People’s Congress, People’s Republic of China, Ms. Fu Ling.
2. 400 YOUTHS EXPECTED TO ATTEND 2015 CONFERENCE-A total of 400 youth participants from across the country are expected to converge at the 2015 National Youth & Sports Conference next week.
3. FORTY-FIVE WOMEN DEPART FOR AUSTRALIA UNDER SEASONAL WORKER PROGRAM-The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations has begun sending women to participate in the Australian Seasonal Work Program. Forty-five women are part of the 90 who would have departed for Australia by the end of September.
1. FIJI AND CHINA DISCUSS CLIMATE CHANGE ADVOCACY
China has pledged its support towards Fiji’s climate change advocacy in the region following talks this week between the Fijian Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola and the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee – National People’s Congress, People’s Republic of China, Ms. Fu Ling.
Ms Ying met with the Foreign Minister in Suva and used the opportunity to thank Fiji for her recent participation at the Military Parade in China. She also pledge support for Fiji’s initiatives towards climate change advocacy in the region. Ms Ying also updated Minister Kubuabola on China’s advancement towards reducing its carbon emissions.
The two also discussed Fiji and China’s participation at this year’s 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Minister Kubuabola thanked Ms Ying and her delegation for visiting Fiji and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Fijian Government for China’s continued and renewed support to Fiji.
He highlighted China’s position as an important development partner for Fiji and also welcomed more high-level delegations from China to visit Fiji.
Ms. Ying was accompanied by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Fiji, H.E. Zhang Ping together with senior officials from the Yantian District.
2. 400 YOUTHS EXPECTED TO ATTEND 2015 CONFERENCE
A total of 400 youth participants from across the country are expected to converge at the 2015 National Youth & Sports Conference next week.
The conference will be held at the FMF Gymnasium with the underlying theme Empowering Youths to Sustain a Nation.
There will be participants from Rotuma and Rabi and Kioa attending the conference.
The conference was first held in 2014 with the sole purpose of bringing together youth representatives, youth workers, youth practitioners and relevant stakeholders to deliberate on cross cutting issues affecting youths in Fiji.
Minister for Youth & Sports, Hon. Laisenia Tuitubou said the conference aims to create a forum to dialogue and maximise youth participations whereby respective youths from different divisions can understand and share ideas.
“It is also aimed to collaborate with both local and overseas facilitators to consolidate resolutions and outcomes that will influence policy directions and discuss ways they can be addressed in a more integrated approach and partnership,” said Hon. Tuitubou.
Hon Tuitubou said the conference will also enable youths to link to various stakeholders that will be available at exhibition booths during the conference.
Director for Youth and Sports Mr William Naisara said; “The six thematic areas for the conference are quality education for sustainable youth development, enabling prosperous development through youth entrepreneurship, empowering youths through information, technology and communication, rights based approach to sexual reproductive health, addressing gender violence through sports and sustaining culture in the 21st century.”
“At the end of the conference we would expect participants to identify issues against actions so that will address these issues identified and generate more resolutions that will outline their aspirations,” said Mr Naisara.
He said the ministry also continues to advocate and place emphasis on the participation of young women in such conferences.
3. FORTY-FIVE WOMEN DEPART FOR AUSTRALIA UNDER SEASONAL WORKER PROGRAM
The Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations has begun sending women to participate in the Australian Seasonal Work Program. Forty-five women are part of the 90 who would have departed for Australia by the end of September.
Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Hon Jioji Konrote said the Ministry continues to work with employers to promote gender equality and inclusivity when considering recruiting.
Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Margaret Twomey commended this as a positive development for not only the Fiji-Australia seasonal worker partnership, but also for women’s economic empowerment.
“With half of this group of workers bound for Australia being women, this is a reflection of the shared commitment that both our governments have toward women’s economic empowerment,” Ms Twomey said.
The seasonal workers have been recruited by Australian employer, Plant Grow Pick Ltd, and will be working on different farms in the Emerald (Queensland) and Euston (New South Wales) regions of Australia.
Fiji’s involvement in the Program began with the April 2015 signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in Suva between the Hon Jioji Konrote, and Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Hon Steven Ciobo.
The Australian Department of Employment has been assisting Fiji’s Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations to manage Fiji’s involvement in the Seasonal Worker Program, through outreach to potential Australian employers and by delivering comprehensive training to the Ministry when Fiji first joined the Program.
Australia recently announced an expansion of the Seasonal Worker Program, to further increase the economic benefits of the Program to Pacific Island Countries. Under the expanded Program the cap on the number of workers who can participate has been removed, and the employment categories have been expanded beyond the horticulture industry to include agriculture and accommodation industries.
The Australian Government will also commence a trial of seasonal labour mobility arrangements with the Northern Australian tourism industry.
Fiji is one of 10 countries currently participating in the Seasonal Worker Programme. This most recent departure will bring the number of Fijians working in Australia under the Seasonal Worker Programme to 94.