Tonga has become the 187th member state of the International Labour Organization (ILO) effective from February 24, 2016.
ILO said it received a letter from the Kingdom saying it “formally accepts the obligations of the Constitution of the ILO”.
Tonga is the eighth Pacific island nation to join the Organization in the past 15 years.
“The ILO was founded in 1919 and is a tripartite structured Organization which gives equal voice to workers, employers and government, to ensure that the views of the social partners are closely reflected in labour standards and in shaping policies and programmes”, a statement from Tonga government said.
It said Tonga now is in the process of consultation with its key stakeholders before ratifying the convention.
“By becoming a member of the ILO, Tonga is indicating its commitment to decent work principles and the progressive realization of international labour standards. Through this work agenda, Tonga commits to encouraging decent employment opportunities, enhancing social protection and strengthening dialogue on work-related issues”.
