Micronesia
Kiribati
Remittance and maritime labour economy — seafarers and fishers, with growing PALM participation.
Legal setup
Kiribati's Employment and Industrial Relations Code 2015 replaced the older Employment Ordinance framework and regulates employment, trade-union registration, and industrial relations. Occupational safety and health legislation accompanies it. The Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development oversees labour administration and the Decent Work Advisory Board. Seafarer employment historically dominates overseas work; PALM participation has grown as an additional mobility channel.
Key instruments
Employment and Industrial Relations Code 2015
Principal modern employment and union-registration statute
Occupational Safety and Health legislation
Companion OSH framework referenced in ILO/KTUC dialogue
Kiribati National Labour Migration Policy
Policy frame for seafarer and other overseas labour mobility
ILO Conventions relevant to FOA and maritime work
Inform DWCP and seafarer standards advocacy
Union formation
Trade unions register under the Employment and Industrial Relations Code. The Kiribati Trade Union Congress (KTUC) federates affiliates including seafarer, teacher, nurse and observer unions. Recognition and collective bargaining operate in a small formal market; seafarer unions have the deepest overseas contract practice via ITF-aligned agreements.
Union landscape
KTUC is the national centre. The Kiribati Islands Overseas Seamen's Union (KIOSU) is the most significant affiliate for overseas maritime workers and has concluded ITF collective-bargaining arrangements. Teachers', nurses' and fisheries-observer unions also affiliate. Capacity remains constrained by scale; seasonal PALM workers and domestic/informal workers have limited organised voice.
Strengths
- Modern Employment and Industrial Relations Code (2015)
- KTUC as functioning national centre with multiple affiliates
- KIOSU maritime expertise and ITF CBA practice
- National Labour Migration Policy addressing seafarer pipelines
- ILO/ACTRAV engagement history with KTUC
Gaps
- Thin formal domestic employment base for union density
- PALM seasonal workers weakly linked to union voice
- Domestic/informal household work largely unorganised
- COVID-era repatriation showed fragility of maritime pipelines
- Limited fisheries crew coverage beyond observers/seafarers
Notable unions
Kiribati Trade Union Congress (KTUC)
National centre federating key affiliates
Kiribati Islands Overseas Seamen's Union (KIOSU)
Principal seafarers' union; ITF affiliate; CBA practice
Kiribati Union of Teachers / Kiribati Nurses Association / Observers Union
Public and sector affiliates under KTUC
News & updates
UnionILO · 2016-10
New era for Kiribati Trade Union Congress (KTUC)
KTUC AGM and new executives following Employment & Industrial Relations Code reforms.
NewsABC News · 2024-10
Kiribati fishermen bring expertise and song to Australia's tuna farms
Coverage of I-Kiribati fishers in Australian tuna operations under labour mobility.
NewsRNZ · 2016
NZ RSE extension only includes Kiribati and Tuvalu
Historic RSE fisheries/extension framing for Kiribati and Tuvalu.
UnionIHB Shipping / KIOSU reporting · 2024
IHB Shipping and KIOSU ITF CBA for Kiribati seafarers
ITF collective-bargaining agreement signed to employ Kiribati seafarers on managed ships.
ReportILO · 2022
Labour Mobility for Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience in the Pacific
ILO regional labour-mobility project including Kiribati.
Relevant reports
Government of Kiribati / ILO2015
Kiribati National Labour Migration Policy
Seafarer and labour-migration policy frame for rights and recruitment.
ILO2010
Kiribati Decent Work Country Programme document
DWCP priorities including employment relations and social dialogue.
World Bank2023
Pacific Labor Mobility Survey 2021–2023
Survey evidence including Kiribati seasonal/labour mobility households.
ADB2009
Kiribati Social and Economic Report 2008
Socio-economic and remittance/livelihood context.