Improving Employment Opportunities in Pacific Island Developing Countries

Apr 03, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) -- -- Governments of Pacific island economies need to review labour legislation in efforts to reduce youth unemployment and promote women in the workforce, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) reports in its latest publication Improving Employment Opportunities in Pacific Island Developing Countries.

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ESCAP says the legislation needs to respond to macroeconomic and business conditions। While recognizing the need for change, it also calls for the maintenance of adequate protection for workers and continued strengthening of skill development programmes।

For improvements in labour market conditions to occur, governments should look to economic and structural reforms to boost growth, and expand training and industry promotion activities.

Many of the countries are revising and updating their labour legislation, with the aim of reflecting changing market conditions. But improving labour market flexibility while maintaining adequate protection for workers requires considerable political will.

ESCAP adds that ?governments are vital in promoting efficient labour markets. Legislation for labour and employment needs to be reviewed and updated to respond to changing macroeconomic and business conditions.?

There are also signs that a growing number of young and educated people with aspirations beyond village-based agriculture and fishing will have greater difficulty in finding employment, especially in the more populous countries.

The populations of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are forecast to grow substantially by 2029 but high migration rates will ease population pressures in the Cook Islands.

Public sector employment is unlikely to grow and prospects for private sector growth in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will remain tight unless the investment environment improves substantially.

Underemployment is also widespread. Underemployment refers to people who work fewer hours than they would be willing and able to work or are working in positions requiring less skill than they actually possess. Many people are engaged in subsistence and small-scale cash-cropping activities. They are often hampered by lack of skills and access to high quality-education and training facilities.

In addition, more women need to find formal employment. Their labour force participation rates are low. Youth unemployment is also widespread among the 15 to 24 age group. ?In the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, youth unemployment is especially acute,? according to the ESCAP publication and many youth have no choice but to join the informal employment sector.

Migration of skilled workers has been a feature in some parts of the Pacific. ?Remittances now account for a high proportion of the gross national income in these countries?, the report noted.

ESCAP also recommended a greater role for social security schemes. ?Many have national provident funds, provided by acts of Parliament, which require employees and employers to contribute. Since these schemes cover only formal sector employees, people working in the informal sector are not covered.?

Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, ESCAP is the largest of the United Nations? five regional commissions in terms of membership, population served and geographic coverage. The only inter-governmental forum covering the entire Asia and Pacific region, it aims to promote economic and social progress?..