Proposal submissions are due on February 3rd, 2021, 5pm EST
Project Description
This project will provide technical assistance to Kiribati’s Ministry of Employment and Human Resources (MEHR) to support the development of a strategic plan detailing how citizens of Kiribati (I-Kiribati) could participate in, and benefit from, Canadian labour mobility programs, and coordinate the implementation of identified opportunities.
The strategic plan will be preceded by an assessment of existing data on the Kiribati labour market and labour force and identify linkages with demand from Canadian employers for workers in sectors including but not limited to hospitality, aged care, construction and other trades. At the same time, to ensure decent work, the report will also highlight employment conditions and Canadian labour laws relevant to the sectors analyzed, will include undertaking a Gender-based Analysis Plus analysis, and assess requirement under specific applicable Canadian worker programs.
Problem being addressed by CTIF
One of the most significant challenges facing Kiribati today is the lack of employment opportunities for its growing youth population and other job seekers. According to the most recent statistics, Kiribati’s total unemployment rate was 30.6 percent, while the youth unemployment rate stood at 54 percent. Several public institutions have a role in managing and improving this situation, including the MEHR’s Labour Division, which is responsible for maximizing employment opportunities for I-Kiribati both locally and abroad.
By supporting this TA, CTIF will contribute to advancing the implementation of Kiribati’s Trade Policy Framework and National Labour Migration Policy with respect to international worker mobility for Kiribati nationals, where Canada is among the targeted labour markets. It also supports the Kiribati 20-Year Vision 2016-2036, which seeks to increase the number of overseas workers supporting the key policy area of Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction.
Development Dimension of CTIF
Addressing the lack of employment opportunities in Kiribati could have positive spill-over effects in addressing a host of other social issues. For I-Kiribati workers, securing employment opportunities abroad enables them to support their families back home through their earnings/remittances, which in turn will result in consumption spending, savings, and perhaps investment. These factors partly compensate for the lack of income and tax revenue-generating employment opportunities at home. Moreover, as one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, overseas experience could also provide opportunities to channel funds to build domestic resilience to climate change such as by reinforcing their own homes or contributing to other community-led climate adaptation efforts.