The loss of skilled labourers leaves “our own systems more vulnerable just when they need strengthening”.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said this while addressing participants at the Pacific Regional Tripartite Conference and 50th Anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the Pacific in Nadi yesterday.
“In the Pacific, climate change is displacing livelihoods and threatening jobs, which in turn undermines social stability,” Mr Rabuka said.
“This isn’t just economic loss —it is potential displacement on a historic scale. Labour mobility, then, brings both an opportunity and a challenge.
“Our workers move across the region and the world, sending home vital remittances that fuel local development.
“But the loss of skilled labour — the brain drain — leaves our own systems more vulnerable, just when they need strengthening.”
Meanwhile, Mr Rabuka said evolving security challenges were transforming the very nature of work.
“Our workers will soon need skills in climate engineering, ocean governance, peacebuilding, and digital security. The jobs of tomorrow demand bold investment today.
“These connections are not theoretical. They are the lived reality of Pacific families.
“We are custodians of nearly 20 percent of the world’s ocean. This ocean connects us, feeds us, and holds our economic future. Yet today, the same waters that carried our ancestors now rise with alarming urgency, calling for action that links employment creation with climate resilience.
“Let this be the moment we commit to joined-up leadership — leadership that sees beyond silos and puts people at the centre of every policy decision.”
He said the conference marked a milestone in our region’s journey towards employment, security, and shared prosperity.
“We gather not only to chart a new course, but to honour 50 years of enduring partnership between the Pacific and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
“Over five decades, the ILO has stood by us, and our relationship has been grounded in the principle of tripartism — the equal partnership of governments, employers, and workers — and remains the cornerstone of resilient and inclusive development.
“Today, that spirit is alive in this room. We see ministers, policymakers, employers, workers, and our ILO partners — together, to forge a new, integrated approach to employment, decent work, climate resilience, human security, and labour mobility.
“We meet at a pivotal moment because we understand a fundamental truth: employment, security, labour mobility, and climate change are deeply interconnected forces reshaping the future of our Blue Pacific.”
