Forum Island Country Caucus

A Closed Meeting for Forum Island Countries which are Signatories of the PACER Plus Arrangement on Labour Mobility

A PLMAM Employer Forum will also be held in parallel to the Forum Island Caucus.
This Forum is a closed meeting for PALM and RSE Employers who have registered for PLMAM 2024. Details of the Employer Forum will be conveyed directly to the registered participants. Participants who are not in these closed meetings have a free day.

Chair: Ms. Chere Arthur, Principal Immigration Officer, Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration

Co-Chair: Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit

Opening Prayer
Opening Remarks by the Chair
Adoption of the Agenda

Agenda 1: Outcomes of PLMAM 2023

Progress Update on PLMAM 2023 Outcomes
Discussion Paper PLMAM-24/1: Progress Update on PLMAM 2023 Outcomes

Dr. Alisi Holani
PPIU

Agenda 2: Increasing the effectiveness of the Arrangement on Labour Mobility

Discussion Paper PLMAM-24/2: Increasing the development benefits of labour mobility through the new PACER Plus Arrangement on Labour Mobility (ALM)

Dr. Alisi Holani
PPIU

Agenda 3: Improving Pacific labour mobility data management

Discussion Paper PLMAM-24/3
Concept Note: Establishing an International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) Database for the Pacific

Ms. Angelica Neville, Labour Mobility Officer, ILO Officer for Pacific Island Countries
Mr. Tite Habiyakare, Senior Statistician, ILO

Morning Tea

Remembrance Day Programme

Agenda 3: Improving Pacific labour mobility data management

Discussion Paper PLMAM-24/3
Concept Note: Establishing an International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) Database for the Pacific

Ms. Angelica Neville, Labour Mobility Officer, ILO Officer for Pacific Island Countries
Mr. Tite Habiyakare, Senior Statistician, ILO

Agenda 4: Outcomes of the World Bank Study Tour to the Philippines

Panel discussion:
Chair: Mr. Vincenzo Vinci, Social Protection Specialist, World Bank
Panel:
Lord Vaea, Minister for Internal Affairs, Tonga
Ms. Hakaua Harry, Director, Papua New Guinea Labour Mobility Unit
Ms. Murielle Meltenoven, Commissioner for Labour, Vanuatu Department of Labour & Employment Services

Agenda 5: Pacific Discussions on Pacific Labour Mobility schemes

Facilitated discussion on existing Pacific labour mobility schemes

Lunch

Agenda 5 Con't: Pacific Discussions on Pacific Labour Mobility schemes

Facilitated discussion on existing Pacific labour mobility schemes

Afternoon Tea

Other Matters
Final Words from the Chair
Closing Prayer

Labour Sending Unit and Approved Employer Conference

A forum to discuss issues relating to worker recruitment, selection, education, mobilisation, and welfare and to determine regional solutions to address these issues.

Morning Tea

Meet and Greet

Session 1: Pacific Labour Mobility Worker Wellbeing

Draft Guiding Principles on Pacific Labour Mobility Worker Wellbeing

Dr. Heather Nunns & Dr. Charlotte Bedford

Session 2: Operationalising the Guiding Principles on Pacific Labour Mobility Worker Wellbeing

i. Worker perspectives
Worker representatives

ii. Employer perspectives
PALM & RSE employer representatives

iii. Union perspectives
Ms. Mele 'Amanaki, Secretary General, Pacific Island Council of Trade Unions

Session 2 Cont.: Operationalising the Guiding Principles on Pacific Labour Mobility Worker Wellbeing

iv. Labour Sending Country perspectives
Ms. Batetaake Tatoa, Director for Labour, Kiribati Ministry of Employment & Human Resource
Mr. Paul Elisala, Seasonal Labour Officer, Tuvalu Department of Labour
Ms. Murielle Meltenoven, Commissioner for Labour, Vanuatu Department of Labour & Employment Services

v. Labour Receiving Country perspectives
Ms. Jan Hutton, First Assistant Secretary, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Mr. Jason Stott, First Assistant Secretary, Australian Department of Employment & Workplace Relations
Ms. Emma Sherwood, Senior Advisor Labour Mobility, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Mr. Afzal Ali, Programme Manager, Toso Vaka o Manu, New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Session 3: Priority Measures to Operationalise the Guiding Principles on Pacific Labour Mobility Worker Wellbeing   

Facilitated Dialogue on Way Forward

Final Words from the Moderators

Closing Prayer

Welcome Reception
Hosted by the Government of Australia

Development Impact Workshop

A forum to discuss measures to enhance the positive development impacts of labour mobility in Pacific Island Countries

Session 1: Development Impacts of Labour Mobility in Pacific Countries

Panel Discussion:
Chair: Mr. Solomon Kantha, IOM

1. Development Impact of Pacific Labour Mobility – Findings from the PALM Scheme
   Dr. Kristy Ward, Research & Learning Manager, Pacific Labour Facility
   Ms. Mereseini Cawaru, Quality Learning & Performance Coordinator, Pacific Labour Facility – Fiji
2. Pacific Labour Sending Country Perspectives
   Ms. Christina Maoma, Director for Labour Mobility, Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade

Session 2: Way Forward on Strengthening Skills Development in the Labour Migration Cycle

Panel Discussion: Pacific Labour Mobility Partnership
Chair: Mr. Peter Peilua, CEO, Samoa Qualifications Authority

1. Outcomes from the Regional Workshop on Skills Development in the ALM - Dr. Alisi Holani, PPIU
2. Pacific Private Sector perspectives - Ms. Fantasha Lockington, CEO, Fiji Hotel & Tourism Association
3. PALM and RSE Employer perspectives

Session 3: Way Forward on Strengthening Skills Development in the Labour Migration Cycle

Facilitated Dialogue on Way Forward

Session 4: Social Protection and Superannuation

Social Protection and Superannuation in the RSE and PALM schemes

1. Superannuation in the RSE
   Mr. Matthew Gibbs, Pacific Engagement Manager, Immigration, New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
2. Superannuation in the PALM scheme
   Ms. Holly Lawton, Assistant Director, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade; Dr Cathryn Hummel, Director, Australian Taxation Office

Afternoon Tea

Session 5: Way forward on Social Protection and Superannuation in the RSE and PALM

Panel Discussion:
Chair: Mr. Mahanam Mithun, Programme Officer, ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries; Mr. Kenichi Hirose, Senior Social Protection Specialist, ILO

1. Worker perspectives
2. PALM and RSE Employer perspectives
3. Labour Sending Country perspectives
   Ms. Akosita Polota, Deputy CEO, Overseas Employment Division, Tonga Ministry of Internal Affairs

Session 6: Way Forward on Social Protection and Superannuation in Pacific Labour Mobility

Facilitated Dialogue on Way Forward

Final Words from the Chair

Closing Prayer

Pacific Labour Mobility Dialogue

The final plenary is an official meeting of all labour sending and receiving countries to discuss and agree on strategic priorities required under the PACER Plus Arrangement on Labour Mobility. All PLMAM 2024 participants are invited to attend.

Chair: Ms. Rachel Jolly PSM, Assistant Secretary, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade

Co-Chair: Mr. Roy Lagolago, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit

Opening Prayer
Opening Remarks by the Chair
Adoption of the agenda

Agenda 1: Outcomes of PLMAM 2023

Progress Update on PLMAM 2023 Outcomes

Discussion Paper PLMAM-24/1: Progress Update on PLMAM 2023 Outcomes

Dr. Alisi Holani
PPIU

Agenda 2: Increasing the effectiveness of the Arrangement on Labour Mobility

Discussion Paper PLMAM-24/2: Increasing the development benefits of labour mobility through the new PACER Plus Arrangement on Labour Mobility (ALM) 

Dr. Alisi Holani
PPIU

Morning Tea

Agenda 3: Improving Pacific Labour Mobility Data Management

Discussion Paper PLMAM-24/3:
Concept Note: Establishing an International Labour Migration Statistics (ILMS) Database for the Pacific

Ms. Angelica Neville, Labour Mobility Officer, ILO Officer for Pacific Island Countries
Mr. Tite Habiyakare, Senior Statistician, ILO

Agenda 4: Pacific Labour Mobility Principles and Architecture

Pacific Labour Mobility Principles

Ms. Sapai Moana Matariki
Acting Team Leader (Trade), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
Ms. Manisha Mudliar
Private Sector Officer, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

Agenda 5: Update on Labour Mobility Opportunities

5.1 Update on Intra-Pacific Labour Mobility - Niue and Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Pilot

Ms. Gaylene Tasmania, Deputy Secretary to Government, Niue

Lunch

Agenda 5 Cont.: Update on Labour Mobility Opportunities

5.2 Update on the RSE and PALM Schemes

Australia:
Ms. Jan Hutton, First Assistant Secretary,
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
Mr. Jason Stott, First Assistant Secretary,
Australian Department of Employment & Workplace Relations
New Zealand:
Mr. Tharron McIvor, Unit Manager, Pacific Regional Division, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

Afternoon Tea

Agenda 6: Outcomes from the 2024 PLMAM Employer Forum

Representative from the 2024 PLMAM Employer Forum

Agenda 7: Outcomes from the 2024 LSU & AE Conference and the 2024 Development Impact Workshop

Ms. Angelica Neville, Labour Mobility Officer, ILO Officer for Pacific Island Countries
Mr. Howard Politini, Chairperson, Pacific Island Private Sector Organisation

Agenda 8: Adoption of Host Country and tentative dates for PLMAM 2025

Agenda 9: Other Matters

Final Words from the Chair
Closing Prayer

Closing Reception
Hosted by the PPIU

Adina Apartment Hotel (click here)
171 George Street, Brisbane City

Evolution Apartments (click here)
18 Tank Street, Brisbane City

Apartment
4 star

George Williams Hotel (click here)
317/325 George Street, Brisbane City

Hilton Brisbane (click here)
190 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane City

Hyatt Regency Brisbane (click here)
33 Burnett Lane, Brisbane City

The Inchcolm (click here)
73 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill

MacArthur Chambers Apartments (here)
201 Edward Street, Brisbane City

The Manor Apartment (click here)
289 Queen Street, Brisbane City

Mercure Brisbane King George Square (here)
Corner Ann and Roma Streets, Brisbane

Meriton Suites Herschel Street (click here)
43 Herschel Street, Brisbane City

Oaks Brisbane on Charlotte Suite (here)
128 Charlotte Street, Brisbane City

Pullman Brisbane King George Square (here)
Corner Ann and Roma Streets, Brisbane

Sofitel Brisbane Central (click here)
249 Turbot Street, Brisbane City

voco Brisbane City Center (click here)
85/87 N Quay, Brisbane City

W Brisbane (click here)
81 N Quay, Brisbane City