News & Events

Samoa has become the first country in the Pacific to put a cap on the number of workers taking part in Australia and New Zealand’s labour mobility scheme. The new rules, which will come into force in mid-2024, will limit the number of Samoan workers in the program to 12,000.

The Pacific labour scheme allows citizens from certain Pacific island nations to take up temporary work in specific industries in Australia and New Zealand. It provides an important source of remittances for many Pacific economies. However, there have been concerns that too many workers leaving can impact essential services back home. By capping the number, Samoa is trying to strike a balance between meeting demand for overseas work and retaining skills domestically. The 12,000 limit approximately matches the current number of Samoan citizens in the programme.

The new rules will also give priority selection to Samoan citizens who have been unemployed for over 6 months. This aims to provide opportunities to those most in need of work and income. Supporters of the cap hope it will force employers to improve pay and conditions to attract and retain staff domestically.

Read the original article here: https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/programs/pacificbeat/samoaworkercap/103157944

The African Development Bank Group approved $252.83 million in loans to fund road construction projects in Uganda. The financial package consists of $179.68 million from the African Development Bank and $73.15 million from the African Development Fund.

The funding will support the construction of two key roads – the Laropi-Moyo-Afoji road and the Katuna-Muko-Kamuganguzi road. The Laropi-Moyo-Afoji road is located in northwestern Uganda in the Moyo district, which has a population of around 140,000. 80% of the land in Moyo is suitable for agriculture and horticulture. The Katuna-Muko-Kamuganguzi road is also strategically important for trade and connectivity in the region. Together, these roads will boost economic opportunities for agricultural communities in the Kabale and Rubanda districts, home to approximately 460,000 people.

As of November 2023, Uganda has 23 active projects funded by the African Development Bank Group totalling $1.957 billion. This latest loan approval demonstrates the Bank’s continued commitment to investing in critical infrastructure to accelerate economic growth and improve lives across Uganda. The new roads will enhance regional integration, facilitate cross-border trade, and provide rural communities with better access to markets and social services.

Read the original article here: https://afdb.africa-newsroom.com/press/uganda-african-development-bank-to-lend-more-than-252-million-to-improve-rural-transport-and-facilitate-regional-integration?lang=en

The Vice President of Ghana, Mahamudu Bawumia, announced that 6 out of 10 new sports stadiums being built by the government across the old regions are nearly complete. Bawumia shared this update during the 100-day countdown launch event for the upcoming 2023 African Games in Accra. He also took the opportunity to inspect the game facilities at Borteyman and the University of Ghana. The Vice President emphasised that these investments in world-class, multi-purpose stadiums and infrastructure demonstrate the government’s commitment to successfully hosting the African Games.

The stadium projects and hosting the African Games will provide jobs, tourism revenue, and national pride. By delivering on major sports infrastructure goals, the administration aims to leave a sustainable legacy benefiting communities across Ghana.

Read the original article here: https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/ghana-six-new-sports-stadia-ready-for-commissioning-vice-president-bawumia-reveals?lang=en