The Australian Government’s Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) provides workers from nine Pacific island countries for employment in rural and regional Australia for up to three years. It marked one year of operation on 30 June and according to some, there was little to celebrate. However this article argues it’s early days yet.

The Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP), which allows workers from the Pacific and Timor-Leste to work on Australian farms for up to nine months, grew by 44% in 2018-19 or by some 3,000 workers – the largest absolute increase ever and one of the highest percentage growth rates.

The graduation of Kiribati from Least Developed Country (LDC) status is currently under review. Kiribati has met the formal criteria for graduation, and if this occurs, the Micronesian nation would lose access to the International Support Measures (ISMs) that LDCs are entitled to, including market access and trade, development assistance and general support. While Samoa...

With 110,136 people spread across 33 atolls and 3.5 million square kilometres of ocean, Kiribati faces significant economic and service delivery challenges. In addition to being one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, and one most affected by climate change, other challenges stem from a highly dispersed population, remoteness to major markets, lack...

Based largely on the experiences of African countries, the least developed country (LDC) category was created as a recognition that certain countries face particularly serious obstacles to achieving the structural transformation needed to advance economically and socially. Most non-LDC developing countries (the great majority) still receive aid, but graduation should mark the point at which...