Embedding fair recruitment practices into labour mobility and relocation programmes is essential to prevent vulnerability amongst climate-induced migrants in the Pacific Islands, according to a new report released by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
As rising seas, intensifying storms and environmental degradation force more Pacific Islanders to move in search of work, the report calls for urgent policy action to ensure that migration is safe, rights-based and supports adaptation goals-rather than exposing workers to exploitation and precarious conditions.
"Climate mobility is a growing challenge for Pacific Island communities," said Martin Wandera, Director of the ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries. "By ensuring that recruitment is fair, transparent and inclusive we can help migrant workers access decent jobs both at home and abroad."
The Pacific region is experiencing profound climate-related disruptions. In 2023, more than 50,000 individuals were displaced due to extreme weather events, while saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion are steadily rendering communities uninhabitable. The report details how these dynamics are increasingly driving people into precarious migration pathways and informal labour markets, where protections are often lacking.
It underscores the importance of zero-cost recruitment, where fees and migration-related costs are borne by employers, allowing workers to build savings, support their families, and invest in climate-resilient livelihoods back home.
Key recommendations include aligning labour migration schemes with international labour standards, providing comprehensive pre-departure and post-arrival support to migrant workers, integrating fair recruitment into planned relocation strategies, and addressing the marginalization of vulnerable communities. It also calls for the creation of a regional knowledge-sharing platform to help align policies, share best practices, and enhance oversight as well as the embedding of climate resilience measures into mobility programmes.
The report Fair Recruitment and Climate Mobility in the Pacific was produced by ILO's Pacific Climate Change, Migration and Human Security (PCCMHS) Phase II programme supported by New Zealand.
