ALOFI, NIUE – PACER Plus, in collaboration with the Government of Niue, hosted the final evaluation of the Niue-Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot from 1-4 July 2025 in Niue.
The groundbreaking labour mobility pilot between Niue and Solomon Islands has been deemed a success, following a comprehensive final evaluation that highlights the initiative’s strong outcomes for both countries.
The Niue–Solomon Islands Intra-Pacific Labour Mobility Pilot, launched under the PACER Plus Arrangement on Labour Mobility (ALM) in July 2024, has provided a unique and valuable opportunity for four retired Solomon Islands nationals to address critical labour shortages in Niue’s aged care sector.
The final evaluation confirmed that the pilot met its core objectives of facilitating the movement of Pacific labour within Pacific countries to deliver mutual benefits to both labour sending and labour receiving countries.
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.
– PACER PLUS
PHOTO CAPTION: The Niue- Solomon Islands Intra-Pacific Labour Mobility Pilot has provided a valuable opportunity for four retired Solomon Islands nationals to address critical labour shortages in Niue’s aged care sector.
