Prime Minister (PM) Jeremiah Manele has praised Pacific Labor Mobility, emphasizing its critical role as a “lifeline of opportunities”for Pacific nations.
He made the statement in his keynote address at the opening of the four-day Pacific Labor Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) 2025, Tuesday at the Aquatic Center in Honiara.
The event is hosted by the Solomon Islands Government in collaboration with the PACER Plus Implementation Unit.
The meeting brings together representatives from Pacific Island governments, international and regional organizations, labor mobility employers, and members of the private sector and civil society.
Manele highlighted that for the Solomon Islands, labor mobility is not just an economic policy but a vital tool for national development—empowering youth and women, reducing unemployment, and building resilience in rural communities.
“Thousands of Solomon Islanders have found meaningful work abroad, gained new skills, supported their families, and returned home with renewed hope and experience,” he said.
Manele said, remittances from Solomon Islands seasonal workers contributed SBD 470 million last year.
“While this may be small in comparison to other Pacific family members, these remittances are of immense significance to our economy. They help pay school fees, build roads, and create small businesses,” he said.
The Prime Minister added that every Solomon Islander working overseas—alongside others from the Pacific—carries the spirit of their pioneers, helping families at home while contributing to regional prosperity.
He emphasized that labor mobility must go hand in hand with national development goals.
“It reduces unemployment, empowers youth and women, and builds resilience in rural communities,” Manele said.
“When workers return home, they bring back skills and perspectives that can strengthen our domestic industries. But we must also ensure our local economy provides opportunities for these workers once they finish their terms abroad.
“This is how labor mobility becomes a cycle of empowerment—not a one-way journey.
“Our strength lies in Pacific solidarity. Through the Pacific Labor Mobility Annual Meeting, we share experiences and strengthen coordination across our region,” he added.
By AGNES MENANOPO
Solomon Star, Honiara
