8,000 seasonal workers targeted

By NATHAN WOTI

AUSTRALIA is targeting 8,000 seasonal workers by 2025 through the Pacific Islanders Labour Mobility programme to work in farms, an official says.
Australian High Commission economic counsellor Nic Jonson said a seasonal worker in Australia earns about AU$1,000 (about K2,300) per month.
“That’s AU$12,000 (about K28,000) in a year, and that could change not only their (seasonal workers) lives, but the lives of their families who are living in rural PNG communities,” he said.
Jonson said the two governments through their respective immigration, labour and foreign affairs departments were working to ensure this was achieved within the next two years.
“The return farmers in Australia get is that their food crops and vegetables are picked and at market at the right time.”
Jonson said currently there were 2,000 seasonal workers living and working in farms in Australia, however demand for seasonal workers had increased.
He said while he understood the visa issues in PNG, these opportunities needed to be treated as important for the economic growth of both countries.
Meanwhile, PNG labour mobility engagement manager Avalon Studt at the treasury department said that more than 11,000 grade 10 and 12 students dropped out every year, who could be up-skilled, trained and work in farms in Australia.
“Australia is an opportunity to tap into, in front of them and I’ll push for it to happen,” she said.
“We have about 11,000 potential youths who with little up skilling could be a great asset for economic development for both countries.
“These youths are here, and if we do not give them an opportunity now, they become data for unemployment, and contribute to law and order issues.
“Both the Australian and PNG governments can work together because there is an opportunity for Australia to benefit from labour in their farms, and PNG will get back skilled human resources in return.”