Although the Cook Islands is not a United Nations Member State, it works with several UN agencies including the WHO and UNESCO, as well as having diplomatic relations in its own name with 43 other countries. Since June 2015, the Cook Islands became the 186th ILO member State. The ILO is the International Labour Organisation, the only tripartite U.N. agency, exist since 1919 and brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States , to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.

Decent Work Country Program

The Decent Work Country Program (DWCP) is a five year action plan for advancing decent and fair work in the Cook Islands. The priorities were set in consultation with the tripartite partners, i.e, the Chamber of Commerce as the employers’ representative and the Cook Islands Workers Association as the employees’ representative.

The priorities identified in the plan will be supported by the ILO and driven by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the tripartite partners.

What is Decent Work?

Decent work is employment that respects the fundamental rights of a human being. It is work that respects the physical and mental integrity of a person during their employment.

For further details on the DWCP, click here.

How does Tripartism work? 

The Cook Islands National Labour Advisory Board (NLAB) is a tripartite board composed of members of the Government, the Chamber of Commerce as the employers’ representative and the Cook Islands Workers Association as the employees’ representative.

The tripartite structure is the basis of the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ) and promotes collaboration and participation from the three sectors to achieve decent work in a country.

The NLAB meetings are scheduled every quarter.

For more information on the NLAB, please contact the Labour and Consumer Services, 29370.