Company responds to complaints

AN Australian construction company, Northbuild has clarified its recent advertisement for a mechanic, saying it had been misunderstood.
The advertisement which was posted on the PNG Job Seek advertising platform, stated that “Northbuild Construction PNG Ltd is currently seeking for a Filipino, suitably qualified and experienced, mechanic for our Port Moresby Branch.”
Following complaints by locals that the requirement was discriminatory in specifically calling for a Filipino, the company’s business development manager, Frank Genia clarified that the position was indeed open to all.
“I know that they got confused with the ads but it’s not necessarily for a Filipino,” he said.
“We’ve received some CVs from locals and I told them they were also welcome to apply.
“Our fleet manager is a local and we have local mechanics as well.”
Genia said the company employed 75 locals and nine expatriates.
Northbuild, a Queensland-based company, successfully expanded its operations into PNG in 2014 and has experienced rapid growth in this market.
Genia, who is from Central, said the company had a local talent enrichment and recruitment programme which aimed to grow its national workforce capacity.