The Solomon Islands Council of Trade Unions (SICTU) has said it is deeply concerned about the ongoing exploitation of workers by both foreign and local employers across the country.

SICTU also called on business associations including Solomon Islands Chambers of Commerce Industry (SICCI) and the Chinese association to encourage their members to abide by the country’s labour laws.

“It has come to our attention that many employers are taking advantage of workers’ gratitude for employment opportunities by denying them access to their full work conditions, incentives, and entitlements as required under Solomon Islands labour laws and related regulations,” the SICTU statement yesterday said.

The SICTU statement said this alarming trend is widespread and affects workers in various industries, including but not limited to:

• Retail and wholesale sectors
• Auto shop stewards
• Restaurant and Kai Bar workers
• House maids
• Hotel local workers
• Saw Mill local workers
• Mining sector local workers
• Infrastructure and building construction local workers
• Logging sector local workers
• Local Fishermen working in high seas
• Local Maritime workers

These workers, who form the backbone of our economy, are being systematically denied their rightful wages, benefits, and safe working conditions, the statement said.

Such practices are not only unethical but also a clear violation of Solomon Islands labour laws, SICTU said.

Call to employers and business associations
SICTU calls on the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), the Chinese Association, and other employer groupings to urgently guide their member employers to comply with their legal obligations. Employers must respect and uphold the rights of workers as enshrined in national labour laws. Exploitation of workers, whether through underpayment, denial of entitlements, or unsafe working conditions, must cease immediately.

Call to government authorities
we urge the Registrar of Companies and the Registrar of Foreign Investments Division to take immediate action to ensure that all investment applications include a detailed feasibility business proposal outlining the number of employees the project will engage and how their rights and entitlements will be protected. Investment proposals that fail to meet these basic requirements should not be approved.

Local employers must stop exploiting relatives
SICTU also calls on local employers to stop exploiting their relatives by using them as cheap labor in their businesses. Family ties should not be used as an excuse to deny workers their rightful wages and benefits. Such practices perpetuate poverty and inequality within our communities.

Reminder to all Investors
All investors in Solomon Islands—whether local, foreign, or semi-local—must be reminded that when engaging in formal business activities in the country, they are legally obligated to abide by national labor laws and related regulations. Compliance with these laws is not optional; it is a fundamental requirement for operating in Solomon Islands.

SICTU statement said it stands firm in its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of workers across the country.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and take necessary actions, including legal measures, to ensure that workers are treated fairly and with dignity.

“We call on all stakeholders—employers, government authorities, and workers—to work together to create a fair and just working environment in Solomon Islands. Exploitation has no place in our society, and we must all play our part in eradicating it.”