Labour mobility key to addressing workforce shortages and climate challenges - experts

The seventh Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) has wrapped up in Brisbane, bringing together employers, unions, and representatives to tackle workforce challenges.

Dr Alisi Holani, labour mobility specialist at the PACER Plus Implementation Unit, says the main discussion themes at the meeting two weeks ago included worker wellbeing, superannuation, skills development, and labour mobility.

"We have interagency frameworks and public service protocols in place to ensure workers' fair treatment and wellbeing, and safeguarding them throughout their tenure.”

Intra-Pacific labour mobility pilot programme

In Niue, a six-month Intra-Pacific Labour Mobility pilot programme has deployed retired nurses from the Solomon Islands to Niue to fill the gap in the local health sector.

Holani said they want to shift the tide of workers going to Australia and New Zealand towards addressing critical labour shortages within the Pacific, such as in the Cook Islands and Niue.

"This initiative demonstrates how Pacific nations can collaboratively address their labour needs, ensuring fair treatment and wellbeing through robust interagency frameworks."

Dr Alisi Holani [left] at PLMAM 2024. Photo/Facebook/PACER Plus.

Niue’s Minister for Infrastructure and Finance, Crossley Tatui, said labour mobility was the solution to the country’s development constraints.

"Labour shortages are a critical issue across all sectors in Niue. This pilot programme represents a viable solution with potential for expansion into other sectors based on its success."

Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade permanent secretary, Colin Beck, agreed.

“The pilot provides much needed employment for our surplus nurses, benefiting not only their households but also their communities back home.”

PLMAM 2024 brought together employers, unions and representatives from Pacific Island nations to tackle workforce challenges. Photo/Facebook/PACER Plus.

Labour mobility as a climate change adaptation strategy

While labour mobility plays a vital role in national and regional development, Holani acknowledged it could also work towards broader climate resilience for the region.

“Labour mobility can be seen as a climate change adaptation strategy and can offer several opportunities to directly reduce the vulnerability, particularly through the vulnerability of communities in the Pacific, through improving the financial stability of workers and their communities.

“Climate mobility is an area where the International Labour Organisation and the International Organisation for Migration are leading and we support them in their programmes in this area.”

Niue's Gaylene Tasmania at PLMAM 2024. Photo/Facebook/PACER Plus.

Future goals

As part of the PACER Plus framework, Holani said the 2017 discussions on reviewing and enhancing the arrangement of labour mobility have boosted regional efforts.

“We have a number of workshops lined up early next year looking at areas like social protection, and fair recruitment.

“The key meeting for us is the PLMAM, the Pacific Labor Mobility Annual Meeting, and I'm happy to announce that PLMAM 2025 will be hosted by the Solomon Islands.

“We're looking forward to working closely with the government of the Solomon Islands to host next year's annual meeting.”

For more information, visit pacerplus.org

Watch full interview below.