By Loretta B Manele

Recruitment costs met by migrant workers is not really aligned with the United Nation’s guidelines on fair and ethical recruitment principles.

Emmanuel Pitakaka, the national project officer for IOM (International Organization for Migration), UN Migration expressed this whilst presenting findings on IOM’s “Returned Migrant Workers in Solomon Islands” January 2025 report at the Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

He said during their survey they asked migrant workers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada about the types of cost they found to be the most expensive.

Pitakaka stated that the top three answers to this were international travel cost ranking in 1^st place followed by medical examination and the cost of applying for a passport.

He highlighted that recruitment costs being met by the workers is in fact not really aligned with UN’s guidance on fair and ethical recruitment principles, which states that recruitment costs should be met by employers and not the workers.

“This is something that I would like to highlight, which is inconsistent with international standards”.

He said when you look at the average cost for travel for Australia, New Zealand and Canada, you would see that the average cost for New Zealand is slightly less than Australia, presumably because workers reported that some employers in New Zealand actually covered half of the transportation costs for workers.

Pitakaka mentioned that when he interviewed one worker who has been to New Zealand, he was told that 50 percent of his airfare was covered by the employer while he met the remaining 50 percent cost.

“So that could be an indicative reason why the average cost is slightly lower in New Zealand, because actually in fact the travel distance is much longer if you travel to New Zealand than Australia, so it should be the other way around, but the figures show the other way”

In relation, Pitakaka said they also looked at the how the migrant workers were able to finance their migration.

“When we look at how migrants finance their migration, the majority of workers reported savings as one source of income to finance their migration followed by advance from employers. Advance from employers is when workers advance costs like travel and visa and these are being deducted when the workers get to the countries of destination”

Pitakaka said the migrants were also asked whether or not they borrowed money to finance their travel and 10 percent indicated that they borrowed money while 94 percent of them said they actually fully repaid their loans.

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By Loretta B Manele

The search for better economic opportunities topped the list as motivation for people travelling out of the country to work overseas.

Emmanuel Pitakaka, the national project officer for International Organization for Immigration (IOM), UN Migration spoke about this at the Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

Delivering a presentation from IOM’s “Returned Migrant Workers in Solomon Islands” January 2025 report, he said looking at motivations for people migrating overseas for work, wanting economic opportunities topped the list with 64 percent.

Pitakaka mentioned that the search for economic opportunities is a bit different from those who are looking for employment because they may have had employment in-country, but they wanted to seek better opportunities abroad.

He said one of the workers reported that the main motivation for joining Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme was to buy hardware materials to build houses at home.

This worker stated that after the first season, he was only able to buy timber.

“I continued to purchase other materials after the second season. By the end of three seasons, I had built two houses, which are now occupied by tenants. Looking back, I can say that I have accomplished my goal”.

While there are other reasons for why workers are migrating to work abroad, being able to have that economic opportunity to invest in things that prove beneficial is the top motivational reason for wanting to migrate and work overseas.

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By Loretta B Manele

Overcrowded and overpriced accommodation was found to be one of the principal challenges for migrant workers.

Nathalie Hanley, IOM (International Organization for Migration) Programme Manager for Solomon Islands stressed on this when she spoke about findings from IOM’s “Returned Migrant Workers in Solomon Islands” January 2025 report at Heritage Park Hotel yesterday.

She said in terms of the challenges, the principal challenge reported by migrant workers was living in overcrowded and overpriced accommodation.

Hanley added that from the returned migrant workers they surveyed, about 15% of all workers had reported this as an issue.

She stressed that looking at the total sample of 500 respondents, there were only 15 % of them who had their own bedroom.

On the other hand, the majority 85 % majority had to be in shared accommodation.

“For some of them, it was two to three people per room and for some of them it was more than four people per room. One of the respondents that my colleagues identified mentioned that there were 17 people in the room that he was staying in, which is an extreme lot”.

Hanley emphasized that this poses some issues of privacy.

She said about half the sample they surveyed said they didn’t feel that the accommodation arrangements that they were provided with allowed for their privacy.

Hanely mentioned that on average, more women than men reported that the accommodation arrangements didn’t allow for their privacy.

“So that was one of the challenges that was reported by workers”.

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By Loretta B Manele

Solomon Islands is gearing up in preparation for the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) set to commence in November this year.

According to the PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU), they are in Honiara to begin preparations for the PLMAM in collaboration with the Solomon Islands government.

Hickson George, Deputy Secretary for the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MFAET) is enthusiastic for the upcoming meeting.

He expressed that labour mobility is a development priority for the government and they are very excited to welcome labour mobility stakeholders from across the region to the shores of Solomon Islands in November.

George said Solomon Islands was one of the late comers to labour mobility as the country only came onboard the Pacific labour mobility schemes to Australia in 2019.

“However, in a very short time it has grown tremendously as a labour sending country and we are excited to be sharing some of the best practices that we have adopted and also to learn from our other neighbouring Pacific islands and partners”.

Discussions this week will take into consideration the dates and key issues to be deliberated during PLMAM 2025 and how the forum can improve in fostering regional labour mobility cooperation.

Alisi Kautoke Holani, Labour Mobility Specialist for PPIU stressed on the importance of collaborative efforts.

She said labour mobility has proven to be a transformative driver of socio-economic development in the region but also has its challenges.

“The PLMAM serves as the leading regional platform to address these challenges and promote mutual benefits by sharing best practices, exploring innovative solutions and strengthening effective partnerships across all Pacific labour mobility stakeholders”.

The PACER Plus Implementation Unit (PPIU) as the Labour Mobility Secretariat and Secretariat to PLMAM will be supporting the Solomon Islands government in its preparation towards hosting the annual meeting set for this November.

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BY INDY MAEALASIA

THE Solomon Islands is set to welcome a fourth cohort of the Chinese Medical Team (CMT), which will be deployed in the country for a three-year period.

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele announced this, noting that the third cohort is nearing the completion of its 12 months mission.

With the current cohort soon concluding its term, the fourth cohort is expected to provide continuity in medical services and capacity building.

Unlike the previous annual deployments, Manele said the extended three-year tenure of the fourth team aims to enhance the development of local healthcare capabilities, particularly at the newly established comprehensive medical center.

Manele praised the efforts of the previous Chinese medical teams, describing them as “extremely committed, highly professional, and exhibiting outstanding work ethics.”

He emphasized the significant contributions of the three previous cohorts, noting their role in providing high-quality clinical services across various medical disciplines.

Additionally, their assistance in strengthening the skills of local doctors and specialists, contributing to the long-term improvement of the country’s healthcare system.

Manele also expressed his deep gratitude for the ongoing support from the Chinese medical teams.

“At this junction, let me convey my most sincere gratitude to the Chinese medical teams that have and are currently helping us and also to thank Guizhou Province, the Guizhou Hospital and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for enabling the deployment of the three medical teams to Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands government, through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) highlighted their eagerness to work closely with the fourth Chinese Medical Team to continue the collaborative partnership aimed at advancing the nation’s healthcare services.

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By Loretta B Manele

Michael Papari, a chief from Sahulu, Northwest Guadalcanal wishes to thank their member of parliament and minister for the Ministry of Public Service, Francis Sade for the current road maintenance work in the constituency.

He expressed his gratitude in an interview with Island Sun yesterday.

“I want to take this chance to thank the MP for Northwest Guadalcanal, Francis Sade for the maintenance work on the road from Kakabona to Doma that has started this month”.

He said this road has been neglected for the last 13 years and it is only now that it is being maintained.

Moreover, speaking on behalf of the House of Chiefs of Sahulu, church leaders, women and children, he appeals to members of parliament for Savo/Russells, South Guadalcanal and West Guadalcanal constituencies to support their member of parliament in maintaining the road.

Papari said these three members of parliament should support Sade on this roadwork because their people also use the road as means of transportation.

“I call on the MPs of these three constituencies to support our MP in this road maintenance iniative”.

He stressed that people from Savo/Russell constituency use the road after arriving at Komibo and people from South Guadalcanal and West Guadalcanal constituencies also use the road to travel to the capital to sell their natural produce and products.

Papari said it is only fair that the members of parliament for these three constituencies come together to support their member of parliament to ensure that the road is maintained.

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