The Government of Kiribati has taken a major step toward transforming the country's employment landscape with the validation of the draft of its first National Employment Policy (NEP) and Action Plan. Developed with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the policy outlines a roadmap for inclusive and sustainable employment across the nation.
The milestone was marked by a two-day workshop held on 26-27 June 2025 in South Tarawa, where around -30 participants - including representatives from government, employer and worker organizations and civil society - came together to review and finalize the draft. The workshop fostered broad consensus and shared ownership, paving the way for the policy's formal adoption later this year.
The Honourable Auria Kitina, Minister of Employment and Human Resources, highlighted the importance of implementation: "Policy must lead to action, and action must lead to impact. Together, across all levels and sectors, we must move forward with determination to implement this policy and deliver real improvements for our people."
He further stressed the policy's potential to address persistent employment challenges: "We know that employment plays a central role in shaping livelihoods and improving living standards. Yet many of our people still face challenges in accessing secure, fair, and sustainable work. This policy seeks to address these challenges through targeted, realistic, and inclusive interventions.
The NEP outlines key priorities such as improving wages and working conditions, enhancing education and skills development, expanding employment opportunities, strengthening social protection, and building robust labour market information systems. This initiative underscores Kiribati's commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Christian Viegelahn, ILO Employment Specialist, emphasized the policy's significance: "This policy represents a vital tool for promoting inclusive, productive and sustainable employment for everyone in Kiribati. It is a major step forward and we look forward to its implementation."
This initiative was supported by the ILO Office for Pacific Island Countries, in collaboration with the Government of Kiribati and funded by the United Nations Joint SDG Fund through the joint programme on Accelerating SDG Achievement through Digital transformation to strengthen community resilience in Micronesia.
© ILO
