Final Evaluation Confirms Success of the Niue-Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot

The evaluation found that Niue benefited from increased workforce capacity and improved aged care services while the retired nurses from Solomon Islands gained an income-generating opportunity they otherwise would not have had. Both governments demonstrated strong collaboration, which set a precedent for future intra-Pacific labour arrangements.

The final evaluation also identified lessons for future intra-Pacific initiatives, including the need for streamlined recruitment processes, tailored pre-departure training, and continued worker welfare support.

Niue’s Minister for Finance and Infrastructure, Hon.  Crossley Tatui, welcomed the results:

“This pilot has demonstrated that Pacific Island countries can work together to solve shared challenges. We are proud to have hosted workers from Solomon Islands and are already seeing the positive impacts in our aged care sector.”

Solomon Islands’ Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mr. Hickson George, echoed the sentiment: “This has been an important opportunity for our workers to gain employment in their retirement years and support their families at home.  We look forward to expanding such partnerships under the PACER Plus framework.”

The success of the pilot has generated interest in scaling up intra-Pacific labour mobility in critical sectors while ensuring that development benefits are shared across the region.

PACER Plus will use the evaluation findings to inform the development of Niue’s Labour Mobility Strategy and provide broader regional policy and develop practical guidance for Parties seeking to initiate similar pilot schemes.

[ENDS]

– PACER Plus