Fiji, Kiribati strengthen labour ties with new MOU signed in Nadi

Fiji and Kiribati have taken a major step towards deeper regional labour cooperation following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding during the inaugural Pacific Senior Labour Officials and Labour Ministers Meeting in Nadi.

The agreement was signed yesterday at the Tanoa International Hotel and is expected to strengthen collaboration between the two Pacific nations on labour standards, labour law implementation, skills development, labour mobility, and worker welfare.

Fiji’s Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Agni Deo Singh, said the agreement reflects the growing importance of stronger regional partnerships as Pacific nations navigate evolving labour and economic challenges.

Speaking at the opening of the regional meeting, Singh said Pacific countries must continue working together to ensure labour systems remain resilient, inclusive, and responsive to the changing world of work.

“The future of work in the Blue Pacific must be designed deliberately, collectively and responsibly,” he said.

Singh noted that countries across the Pacific continue to face shared challenges, including youth unemployment, labour migration, climate-related displacement, skills shortages, and the growing impact of technology on jobs and industries.

He also stressed the importance of stronger safeguards and ethical recruitment practices as labour mobility opportunities continue to expand across the region, with increasing numbers of Pacific workers accessing overseas employment pathways.

Meanwhile, Kiribati’s Minister for Employment and Human Resources thanked the Government of Fiji for its continued support, particularly in technical assistance, institutional strengthening, and capacity building under the areas of cooperation outlined in the agreement.

Both Fiji and Kiribati reaffirmed their commitment to working together to promote fair labour practices, decent work, and sustainable economic opportunities across the Pacific.