Council of trade union slams govt’s 3 percent cost of living adjustment, calls for body to advise finance minister on real issues impacting workers and employers

BY NED GAGAHE

The Solomon Islands trade union council has slammed government’s recent 3 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) as a failure.

The Council of Trade Union (SICTU) also called for the immediate establishment of a Tripartite Advisory Body with equal representation from government, employers, and workers to advise the Minister of Finance and Treasury on critical issues relating or impacting workers and employers like Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA).

The recently awarded 3% COLA fails workers as it failed to meaningfully address at least in the minimum, struggling workers and their family long suffering due to high cost of living.

“A 3% COLA to a worker with a gross salary of $2,000 is only an increase of an additional taxable $60,” the SICTU statement said.

This adjustment which is unilaterally decided by the government, ignores skyrocketing cost of living and workers’ hardships, SICTU adds.

“For years, COLA decisions have been made without meaningful consultation, prioritising fiscal convenience over workers’ survival.

“This undermines trust and worsens inequality workers continued to experience from national government top down approach.

“An ancient approach long thrown away by government around the world over more consultative one,” SICTU said.  

The high cost of living stems from poor price management of goods and services by government agencies.

Workers cannot sustain families on unjustified, token increases bring about by a government failure to protect its workers and citizen from high cost of living.

“The government’s unilateral approach must end.

“We demand a seat at the table to ensure COLA reflects real needs, not spreadsheet calculations,” SICTU said.

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BY JOHN HOUAHINHAU

The Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini (SIEVP) coalition has called on the government, chiefs, churches, parents and partners to work together to put a stop to child marriage in the Solomon Islands.

Erin Fritz expressed this during his remarks at the official handover of the SIEVAP project report -Make It 18, 2022-2025 to the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Permanent Secretary (PS) Mr. George Hoa’au Friday last week at the Honiara Hotel.

The SIEVAP project is a joint initiative between the New Zealand and Solomon Islands agencies of Save the Children, World Vision and Child Fund. It was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“I speak today on behalf of the SIEVAP Coalition, and more importantly, on behalf of the Children of the Solomon Islands. We are here today to hand over a special report called “Make It 18.” This report is not just paper. It holds the voices, dreams, and rights of many children, especially girls, across our country.

“Right now, in our laws, a girl can be married at 15. But at that age, she is still a child. She should be in school, playing, learning and not be forced to become someone’s wife or mother.” Said Fritz.

He said that this is not fair, not safe and therefore must change.

“Make It 18” means changing the law so that no child-boy or girl-can be married before they turn 18. We believe 18 is not the right age because it gives children time to grow, learn and choose their future,” he said.

He said that this report shows the voices of young people who say, loud and clear, “Let us be children. Let us be free. Protect us by making the legal age of marriage 18.”

“To our leaders in government, to our chiefs, churches, parents, and partners, we need you to listen, act to protect us. Please use this report to guide your decisions and change the law. We are counting on you to help stop child marriage in the Solomon Islands. Together, we can make this country a safer and better place for all children,” said SIEVAP rep, Fritz.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinini (SIEVAP) project -Make It 18 Report stems from a task of the Solomon Islands government that aims to change the Islanders’ Marriage Act, which was put in place in 1945, almost 70 years ago.

The report was handed over to the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs (MJLA) Permanent Secretary (PS) George Hoa’au Friday last week.

The Islanders’ Marriage Law allows people to get married as young as 15 years old.

“Now, the government of Solomon Islands tasked the Solomon Islands Law Reform Commission to inquire into whether the act is consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and recommended changes to this law. So, to contribute to this effort, the SIEVAP Partner Coalition undertook a series of community consultations in collaboration with the Law Reform Commission office,” said Ellen Siale Kahui SIEVAP Project Manager.

The SIEVAP Coalition Make It 18 Advocacy Campaign advocates to protect children against child marriage.

The SIEVA Coalition works closely with child protection stakeholder partners from the government sector plus the civil society sector to implement its project deliverables.

“Under the SIEVAP Coalition projects, we have three outcomes. Outcome one is focused on legislative reform. Outcome two is more focused on empowering children to be informed about child rights and advocacy. And through outcome two, we established our Children’s Advocacy Committee.

“Outcome three in the SIEVAP project is focused on training faith leaders as well as community leaders, parents, and caregivers on child protection, as well as strengthening community reporting and referral pathways for child abuse cases,” said Ms. Kahui.

“So, the Make It 18 Advocacy Campaign stems from the ageing need to ensure children are protected from early marriage, and this advocacy campaign comes under outcome one of the SIEVA project,” she said.

The SIEVAP Project is a coalition project between the New Zealand and Solomon Islands agencies of Save the Children, World Vision and Child Fund.

The four-year project, 2022-2025, is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The country’s existing Islanders’ Marriage Act is inconsistent with two UN conventions that prohibit the marriage of children under 15 years of age.

Ellen Siale Kahui, Solomon Islands Endim Vaelens Agenstim Pikinin (SIEVAP) Project manager, said this when she presented the (SIEVAP) Make It 18 Report Friday last week in Honiara.

Solomon Islands is a state party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The country ratified the CRC on April 10, 1995 and acceded to CEDAW on May 6, 2002.

Kahui said that the country’s legal context accepts child marriage with parental consent based on the current situational analysis in the country.

“There is no proof needed to verify the parties’ age. The law also recognises customary marriage and the importance of bride price. Plus, there is no requirement to register customary marriages,” she said.

“It should be noted that our country has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). With these inconsistencies in our law, our children are vulnerable to getting married at an early age,” she said.

She said that this is even more sad because the cultural and traditional practices, whereby early forced and arranged marriages are widely accepted.

“Economic hardships. Bride price also influences early marriage decisions. Limited education access. School dropouts. Not going to school increases child marriage risk, especially for girls. Legal gaps when it comes to the definition of a child,” said Ms Kahui.

She said that statistics also show that 21% of girls and 4% of boys are married before the age of 18, while 6% of girls are married before the age of 15.

She said that the government of Solomon Islands has ratified the CRC and CEDAW and so is legally obligated to implement legislative and policy measures to prevent child marriage.

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BY NED GAGAHE

The President of the Malaita Youth Council, Phillip Subu, has issued a strong statement following the tragic death of a young man from Makira Province, allegedly at the hands of youth.

In a statement, Subu expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the incident, describing it as a collective wound to the nation and a painful reflection of underlying issues affecting young people in Malaita.

“The act of taking another youth’s life is a stain on our community. It shatters hopes and dreams, and reveals that something has gone terribly wrong among our youth,” Subu said.

He said that the senseless act of violence does not reflect the values of all Malaitan youths and called for calm, unity, and peace among young people especially those living in Honiara.

“We seek to live in a world where there is peace and respect towards our provincial brothers and sisters. What has transpired does not reflect the heart and values of Malaita at all,” he added.

Subu acknowledged the current despair faced by many young Malaitans, citing lack of education, employment, and meaningful opportunities as major contributing factors to social unrest and violence.

In a direct appeal to Malaitan leaders, the youth president urged a re-evaluation of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), calling for a more youth-focused approach to development.

“The funds and resources allocated through the CDF should be redirected towards initiatives that directly benefit the young people of Malaita. We need to invest in education, vocational training, and job creation.”

He proposed several solutions, including: Improving access and quality of education, expanding vocational training in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, agriculture and supporting youth entrepreneurship and return migration to Malaita for economic development.

Subu thanked the Members of Parliament from Malaita who have constructively engaged with the grieving family and helped calm the situation.

“Let the tragic loss of this young life be a wake-up call for all of us. Let it be a catalyst for change.”

He concluded by urging all unemployed Malaitan youths living in Honiara to return to Malaita and invest their time in agriculture and local industries, contributing to rebuilding their province and creating a sustainable future.

“If you have no purpose to live for in Honiara, you must return to Malaita and help build our province,” he said.

Subu reaffirmed that Malaita Youth Council’s stand for peace, unity and development and calls on all Solomon Islanders to work together in respect and solidarity.

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