Overseas Workers Resource Centre opens in Kiribati

Kiribati (ILO news) — An Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) has opened its doors, marking a significant milestone toward expanding safe, fair and productive regional employment opportunities for I‑Kiribati workers.

The Centre, located in the Marine Training Centre Compound in Betio, was inaugurated by the Minister for Employment and Human Resources, Auria Kitina on 25 June 2026. It is the result of a close partnership between the Government of Kiribati and the U.S. Government through the Mwakuri Aika a Raraoi Ibukimi 2 Activity (MARI 2) of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)-Kiribati Threshold Program.

Implemented by the Ministry of Employment and Human Resource (MEHR) in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the OWRC reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that I-Kiribati workers have the information and support they need to navigate overseas employment safely and confidently.

Centred on the needs of workers and their families, the OWRC is a dedicated facility providing practical guidance, resources, and protection mechanisms for those pursuing opportunities abroad. It has three core purposes, namely: to prepare workers to exercise and protect their rights abroad; to equip workers and their families for overseas employment impacts through pre-departure training; and to strengthen reintegration support for returnees.

By offering tailored information on employment contracts, cultural adaptation, financial literacy, and health and safety standards, the OWRC aims to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure that I-Kiribati workers participating in regional labour mobility programs can maximize the benefits of temporary work abroad while minimizing social and economic disruptions to their families.

To extend its reach beyond physical premises, the OWRC will operate a national hotline at 555. This will provide ongoing assistance, from pre-application inquiries to post-return counselling.

The MEHR, MCC, and ILO strongly encourage all prospective, current, and returned overseas workers, as well as their families, to utilize the OWRC’s services to ensure they are informed, protected, and able to benefit fully from regional employment opportunities.

“This is an investment that reflects our deep interest in a strong, prosperous and resilient Kiribati. When I-Kiribati workers thrive, when families are supported, and when young people have access to opportunities, both our nations benefit,” said Grace Morgan, Director of Threshold Programs in MCC’s Department of Policy and Evaluation.

“With the support and leadership of Minister Kitina and his ministry, this centre will become a lasting resource of the Government of Kiribati – a resource owned and led by Kiribati. The United States is proud to stand with the Government of Kiribati and the ILO in opening this centre. We are proud of the partnership we continue to build,” she added.

“This is more than a facility opening. It is a statement that I-Kiribati workers are not an export commodity. They are rights-holders, breadwinners, and citizens whose wellbeing matters at every point of their journey: before departure, while abroad, and upon their return home”, said Martin Wandera, Director of ILO office for the Pacific Island Countries.