Labour Mobility

“Labour mobility” is used by DET to refer to opportunities for Solomon Islanders to work abroad on a temporary basis. DET is heavily involved with work within Solomon Islands both to seek new labour mobility opportunities and to regulate existing schemes.

DET pursues new labour mobility opportunities through its negotiation of preferential trade agreements, which may in future guarantee some Solomon Islanders the opportunity to work abroad.

During 2008, DET has been involved in establishing a national institutional structure to regulate labour mobility schemes, particularly the RSE scheme with New Zealand. The following diagram illustrates the interaction between the organisations involved in labour mobility in SI:

This structure was endorsed by Cabinet in July, 2008.

The Labour Mobility Oversight Committee first met in late August 2008. It is responsible for overseeing labour mobility activities and providing detailed policy guidelines to be implemented by the LM National Coordinator and LM Unit.

The Labour Mobility National Coordinator (LMNC) should be the focal point for communication between Solomon Islands Government and other participants in the scheme: RSE employers, the New Zealand Government, recruitment agencies and others. This position is held by the Director of External Trade, Heinz Vaekesa.

The Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) takes care of the day-to-day administration of the scheme. Ezekiel Parairae is working full-time within the Unit and should be your first point of contact for the LMU. He is assisted by Barrett Salato where necessary.

Would you like to recruit Solomon Islanders on behalf of an RSE employer in New Zealand?

There is a separate page on information for potential and existing recruitment agents.

Would you like to work in New Zealand picking or packing fruit for up to seven months?

There is a separate page containing information for potential RSE workers. You may also like to see a list of certified recruitment agents.