Prime Minister, Hon. Jeremiah Manele MP, officially opened the 2025 Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) Tuesday morning at the Aquatic Centre in East Honiara.
The event brings together government leaders, employers, regional partners, and development organizations from across the Pacific to strengthen cooperation on labour mobility.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Manele warmly welcomed delegates, saying Solomon Islands is honoured to host the 2025 PLMAM, the region’s leading platform for dialogue and cooperation on labour mobility.
Speaking on the theme “Sustainable Reintegration Begins with Fair and Effective Recruitment,” Prime Minister Manele emphasized the importance of Pacific unity and collaboration among governments, employers, recruiters, partners, and trade unions to ensure fairness, dignity, and care for workers.
Prime Minister Manele highlighted that labour mobility is not just an economic policy but a “lifeline of opportunity” for many Solomon Islanders. Thousands of citizens have gained valuable skills and work experience overseas, helping their families and contributing to national development, he underlined.
In 2024 alone, remittances from seasonal workers reached $475 million SBD, supporting school fees, home building, and small businesses, the Prime Minister said.
“Every Solomon Islander working overseas carries the spirit of our islands, helping families at home while contributing to regional prosperity. When one Solomon Islander succeeds abroad, the whole community benefits.”
He emphasized that labour mobility must align with the country’s long-term development goals.
The Prime Minister also stressed that labour mobility must be a cycle of empowerment, not a one-way journey. Local opportunities must be created for returning workers so they can use their new skills to grow the economy.
Prime Minister Manele reaffirmed the Solomon Islands Government’s commitment to working with regional partners to overcome persistent challenges and enhance workers welfare.
He urged Pacific nations to view labour mobility as more than the movement of workers, describing it as the movement of hope, skills, and opportunity across the region and called for continued solidarity to make labour mobility a driver of shared prosperity.
– Govt Com Unit
