The International Labour Organisation (ILO) Caribbean office met with Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on May 7, 2025. Photo: ILO Caribbean

ILO Caribbean Director Mr Joni Musabayana (left) and Acting Labour Commissioner Mr Mervin D. Hastings met on May 7, 2025. Photo: ILO Caribbean

The International Labour Ogranisation (ILO) Caribbean team met with the Social Security Board on May 8, 2025. Photo: ILO Caribbean

The International Labour Ogranisation (ILO) Caribbean team met with the Central Statistics Office on May 8, 2025. Photo: ILO Caribbean

During the visit, the ILO Caribbean team, led by Director Mr Joni Musabayana, met with Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) on May 7, 2025. 

According to social media posts announcing the meetings, the ILO Caribbean team met with the Premier to discuss enhanced technical cooperation in labour administration, social dialogue, and international labour standards. 

Premier Wheatley was presented with a copy of the new ILO report ‘Employment Diagnostic Analysis- British Virgin Islands’. This report offers a “data-driven overview of labour trends and strategic recommendations to advance decent work”. 

Mr Musabayana also met with Acting Labour Commissioner Mr Mervin D. Hastings on May 7, 2025, to explore strategic cooperation. 

The engagement supported national efforts to promote inclusive growth, social dialogue, and a decent workforce for all in the VI. 

ILO Caribbean also met with SSB

Yesterday, Thursday, May 8, 2025, the ILO Caribbean team met with the Social Security Board (SSB). 

The meeting was to “explore ways to enhance social protection coverage, ensure sustainability, and support inclusive labour policies”. 

Their discussions, the ILO Caribbean office said it’s social media post support national efforts to ensure all workers are protected and can benefit from fair, resilient systems.

“Together, we’re working to ensure no one is left behind,” the office added. 

The SSB, in its own social media post following the meeting, said it remains dedicated to “strengthening its social protection system for the people of the British Virgin Islands.” SSB thanked the ILO Caribbean team for its visit.

Central Statistics Office

The ILO team also met with Mr Phillip Raymond, Director of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and his team. 

Their discussions centred on collaboration on labour statistics and data systems in support of decent work and evidence-based policy. 

“The discussions focused on improving labour market data collection and analysis to support national development and the future of work in the territory,” ILO Caribbean said. 

ILO Caribbean Office, based in Trinidad and Tobago, was established in 1969, serving thirteen member states and nine non-metropolitan territories of the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. The VI is one of the metropolitan territories the ILO Caribbean Office serves.