APIA, Samoa – The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) Implementation Unit is set to host a regional workshop on Movement of Natural Persons and Labour Mobility in Apia, Samoa, from 11-14 September 2023. The "PACER Plus Regional Workshop on Movement of Natural Persons and Labour Mobility" aims to enhance understanding and explore the interconnections between Trade in Services and the Arrangement on Labour Mobility to maximise development benefits for PACER Plus parties.

Experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu met at the PACER Plus Implementation Unit in Apia, Samoa today for the four-day regional workshop.

PACER Plus, a unique development-centered trade agreement, acknowledges the significance of human capital movement in fostering economic integration and sustainable development. The Movement of Natural Persons (MNP) Chapter of the agreement specifically focuses on facilitating the movement of service providers to promote services trade while excluding measures related to citizenship, residence, permanent employment, or access to foreign employment markets. The Arrangement on Labour Mobility (ALM) is a non-legally binding annex to the Agreement, which provides a framework for regional labour mobility cooperation to foster increased development benefits for participating countries.

"PACER Plus recognises the potential of human capital mobility to drive regional development," states Roy Lagolago, Head of the PACER Plus Implementation Unit. "This workshop provides a unique platform to address knowledge gaps and foster cooperation among PACER Plus parties in the realms of MNP and labour mobility, setting the stage for a more robust and interconnected regional trade ecosystem."

The objectives of the PACER Plus Regional Workshop on Movement of Natural Persons and Labour Mobility are as follows:

1. Capacity building for government officials: Offer a focused capacity building programme for Pacific trade and labour mobility officials on the PACER Plus Movement of Natural Persons Chapter and Arrangement on Labour Mobility to understand how these components can be better utilised to support sustainable economic development in their countries.
2. National Consultations for the Review of the Arrangement on Labour Mobility: Facilitate national consultations to gather valuable input for the ALM Review.

The workshop promises to be a pivotal event in the ongoing efforts to maximise the benefits of PACER Plus for the Pacific. It will bring together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from Australia, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, to foster a deeper understanding of the movement of natural persons and labour mobility, ultimately contributing to the region's economic growth and sustainable development.

For more information on the four-day workshop, please click here.

-END-

To download the high-resolution images, click here and here.