Promoting Employment and Welfares for the Poor in Papua New Guinea through Assistance in International Labor Migration

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has one of the highest poverty rates in the world. Youth unemployment has been a chronic issue, with the vast majority of Papua New Guineans engaged in informal sector activities such as subsistence agriculture. In the absence of a national social protection system, low-income households rely on informal social protection systems such as social networks, civil society, and local authorities. Existing labor mobility schemes in the region have the potential to bridge the PNG population with higher-paying overseas employment opportunities, especially in Australia. Remittances from international labor migration could play an important role in poverty reduction and providing informal social protection to migrant-sending households and communities. However, despite having the largest population size of any Pacific Islands country, PNG sends a minimal number of workers overseas, resulting in low levels of international remittance inflows. 

The researchers plan to design and conduct a randomized impact evaluation of the Enhancing Labour Mobility from Papua New Guinea project, which will be implemented by the Government of PNG with support from the World Bank. The project aims to support Papua New Guinean workers and their households to benefit from overseas employment opportunities, especially those in Australia. The project provides assistance to aspiring workers for participation in labor mobility schemes, including work readiness training (soft skills, interviewing, preparing job applications, etc.) and interventions to reduce or subsidize pre-departure costs.