Tonga Labour Mobility Review Consultant - PLMSP

About Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a signature initiative for the Australian Government that enables workers from 9 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor‑Leste to work in priority sectors in Australia. The Pacific Labour Mobility Support Program's (PLMSP) role is to provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and governments in 9 PICs and Timor‑Leste with support to enable workers to access PALM scheme in inclusive ways that maximise the benefits for the workers and national economies while minimising risks from labour mobility participation.

Palladium is contracted to deliver PLMSP on behalf of DFAT.

The Tonga Labour Mobility Review Consultant will be responsible for leading a full review and update of Tonga's Labour Mobility Policy, working with government agencies and stakeholders to strengthen how labour mobility is managed. The consultant will research and analyse current challenges and opportunities, develop an updated policy and threeyear action plan, create supporting risk and monitoring frameworks, and guide the validation and endorsement process with senior decision makers.

The role ensures Tonga's labour mobility settings are aligned with national priorities and positioned to make the most of regional labour mobility opportunities.

This is a short-term, 40-day consultant opportunity.

The Tonga Labour Mobility Review Consultant will be responsible for but not limited to:

• Understanding the key development issues relating to the Tonga participation in circular labour mobility and how the updated Policy can address these issues.
• Establish the policy context including the key overarching national development policies to which the Policy is to be aligned; and any existing labour mobility policies, strategies and documents that the Policy would consolidate, and perhaps replace.
• Determine the vision, mission, goal and cross‑cutting themes of the Policy as aligned to the Tonga overarching development goals.
• Ascertain the strategic pillars and policy objectives necessary to deliver on the updated Policy vision, mission and goals.
• Identify priority actions necessary to achieve the updated Policy vision, mission and goals over the next three (3) years.
• Align the findings of the Snap Review of the Tonga Labour Mobility Policy‑Implementation Action Plan of the Overseas Employment Division and the Relationship brokering of the current labour mobility governance and institutional framework to determine how labour mobility can be better governed and managed in Tonga as well as stock‑take the relevant agencies involved in the management of circular labour mobility in Tonga.
• Consider the full circular labour mobility process to ensure that the updated Policy encapsulates all aspects of labour mobility.

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline, such as Public Policy and Planning, Economics, International Trade, Social Sciences or a related field.
• Advanced experience in policy development and review, including labour mobility policy frameworks and national action plans.
• Strong understanding of circular labour mobility, including associated development benefits, risks and mitigation strategies.
• Demonstrated experience conducting qualitative research, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions.
• Experience delivering similar consultancy projects, preferably within the Pacific region.
• Knowledge of labour mobility schemes relevant to Tonga, including an understanding of the country's labour market context and data sources.
• Proven ability to work independently under a clearly defined consultancy framework, while collaborating effectively with stakeholders and teams.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to meet tight deadlines.

We are committed to building a diverse, geographically dispersed workforce to maximize our support. We encourage applications from candidates from Pacific Island countries, Timor‑Leste, and across Australia. You must have valid Australian or country specific work rights to be considered for this…