Call for more PNG workers

AUSTRALIA is working to increase the number of Papua New Guineans going to Australia under the Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Workers Programme, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Women Marise Payne says.
Payne, who led a delegation of ministers to the 27th PNG-Australia Ministerial Forum, told The National she was personally pushing for this to happen.
“We really want to see the number of Papua New Guineans coming to Australia under the Pacific Labour Scheme and under the Seasonal Workers Programme grow significantly,” she said.
“I’m personally very engaged in pushing for that to happen.”
Payne said the focus on technical vocational education training (Tvet) would enhance opportunities for the Pacific Labour Scheme.
“That is something which I’m very passionate about,” she said.
Payne said an employer delegation from Australia visited PNG recently and out of that more than 20 workers were now going to Australia in a number of different areas including hospitality.
She said another employer visit would happen in Sept.