Fijian labour in demand
THE growing economic links between Fiji and Papua New Guinea is seen as the main exception to a lack of economic links between Pacific Island Countries.
A working paper on the Labour Mobility in Pacific Island Countries by the International Labour Organization (ILO) states that as the largest economies and the two most populous countries in the region, PNG and Fiji have taken regional leadership roles.
It highlights that there has been growing PNG investment in Fiji, particularly in the tourism industry with some notable Fijian investments in PNG.
The working paper highlights that it is possible that these investments have already impacted the flow of labour and there is potential for more labour migration in the future.
According to the working paper, one relatively recent labour flow is that of hospitality and tourism workers who have moved from Fiji to PNG which can be linked to Fiji’s developed tourism industry and the existence of good hospitality and tourism training in Fiji, as well as increased economic links between Fiji and PNG.
Meanwhile, it also stated that there has been increased intraPacific labour migration and since Fiji has the most advanced education and skills training systems in the Pacific Islands region, Fijians have found employment in several PICs and in various occupations including teachers, nurses, skilled tradespeople, in various managerial positions as well as in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Fijians have moved to the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and other countries where they work in various skilled and semi-skilled occupations.
It was also revealed that more recently Fijians had been known to migrate to PNG as security officers.
According to the report, in 2017 42 Fijian security personnel were hired to provide security at the closure of the immigration detention centre on Manus Island.
“Fijian citizens have been known to be working as domestic help and in the hotel industry in the Cook Islands, and also as nurses, teachers, doctors, lawyers, pilots, mechanics, electricians and technicians in the FSM, Guam, Kiribati, RMI and Vanuatu,” it stated.
Set to be discussed at the high level meeting in PNG towards the end of this month, the working paper states that PIC governments would not wish to promote labour migration in skilled occupations where there is a shortage in the country and where the emigration of skilled human resources or “brain drain” can have a negative development impact, example scientists, engineers, technicians, skilled tradespersons, teachers, doctors, nurses.
It recommends PIC governments, in collaboration with social partners, in the framework of a national labour migration policy or national employment policy to deliberate over an overseas employment strategy.
According to the report, after determining the preferred levels and types of labour migration, Pacific Island governments could become more active in gathering and disseminating information on potential labour migration opportunities in non-traditional destinations and new occupational areas.
They could proactively negotiate bilateral labour agreements/ memorandums of understanding with potential destination countries and after identifying overseas employment opportunities, governments may consider aligning education and training curriculum and standards with countries of destination.