Vanuatu’s semi-skilled workers will have more opportunities for employment in Australia under the labour mobility programme.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs met with their Australian counterparts about strengthening the Pacific Labour Scheme programme in the interest of both the Vanuatu and the Australian governments.
Since the signing of the Pacific Labour Scheme Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) in Nauru in September 2018, 12 Ni-Vanuatu employees are now being employed in the Horticulture sector in Australia.
The ministry has confirmed that 11 people in the tourism sector have been interviewed for positions in a 5-star hotel on Hayman Island and they are expected to arrive in Australia in April.
Vanuatu’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat said he is impressed with the progress of the Pacific Labour Scheme programme.
Mr Napuat said despite the fact that work standards in the Pacific Labour Scheme are much higher than Recognised Seasonal Employment scheme and Seasonal Worker Programme, he is confident Vanuatu workers are ready to satisfactorily undertake work of such magnitude abroad.
He further commented “we now have a market to compliment the internationally recognised certificates and Diploma’s granted by APTC as a lead regional training institution.”
He said the Labour Department and other local agencies must have close collaboration to ensure sufficient preparation of workers are undertaken in order to prepare Vanuatu’s semi-skilled labourers
for the Pacific Labour Scheme.
Mr Napuat also reiterated the Government’s commitment to securing access to employment opportunities both locally and internationally.
This milestone supplements the many achievements between Australia and Vanuatu as a result of strong negotiations between Vanuatu and Australia to address labour mobility issues.