Solomon Islands Govt Approves PIFS Caregivers Pre-feasibility Study
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is to develop a caregiver training programme for Solomon Islands as a pilot scheme
on Temporary Labour Mobility after the Government in Honiara approved a pre-feasibility study done on the programme.
"The pre-feasibility study was the result of the Solomon Islands Governments' request for the Forum Secretariat to
explore employment opportunities for its youth as a means to assist in the country's economic recovery," says Peter
Forau, Deputy Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat.
The study provides an assessment of the costs and benefits for such a scheme for Solomon Islanders in terms of their
possible employment in Canada.
The study has recently been approved by the Solomon Islands Government which now enables a pilot scheme to be developed
initially for Solomon Islands.
"The pilot scheme will aim to provide training for qualified care-givers to access employment in the Canadian-aged-care
market in partnership with established caregiver recruitment agencies," says Mr Forau.
"Depending on how the pilot scheme fares, it may be possible to develop a broad based scheme to cover other interested
Forum Island countries."
Using the pre-feasibility study, the Forum Secretariat will now seek funding from potential donors or stakeholders for
the pilot project to take off at the Seventh Day Adventist Nursing College at Atoifi in east Malaita, Malaita Province,
Solomon Islands.
The initiative is in line with the aims of the Pacific Plan initiatives in the areas of economic governance, trade and
labour mobility.
(Source: Pacific Islands Forum Media Unit)
ENDS