Solomon Islands Labour Mobility Scheme Brought in SBD431 Million Dollars in 2024, Boosting Economic Growth

By Alex Dadamu 

The Labour Mobility Scheme has brought SBD431 million dollars in remittances into the Solomon Islands economy in 2024.

Staff from the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) and the Solomon Islands Support Service recently celebrated the schemes milestone achievement.

LMU Director Christina Marau in an interview with SIBC news said while there are some negative impacts, the economic benefits of the schemes far outweigh them.

She explained the success of the schemes is due to the empowerment element it has in enabling average families to raise their standard of living and contribute to their community’s development.

“This is a huge achievement because of the positive spillover effect remittance money has on communities. For example, when workers in the labour mobility scheme send money back home to build a house, the carpenter who builds the house gets paid. He may then use that money to pay for his child’s school fees. That’s the spillover effect of remittances and not only the receiver of the remittance will benefit from the money but the whole community,” she said.

Despite the success of the schemes, demand for participation remains high, with many candidates still waiting in the work-ready pool.

Marau said that while the government sets annual targets for the number of local workers to be employed through the programs, the demand continues to outpace the available opportunities.

The SBD431 million dollar in remittances highlights the ongoing success of the labour mobility schemes, providing vital financial support for families and driving economic growth across Solomon Islands.

ENDS///