Company stresses on skilled labour

By DULCIE OREKE
PAPUA New Guineans are skilful workers when trained properly, Curtain Bros PNG Limited general manager Justin McGann says.
“We know this because we have been training Papua New Guineans in PNG and Australia since 1966,” he said at the Southern regional development forum in Port Moresby yesterday
McGann said the firm had an expatriate PNG workforce in Australia numbering close to 40 people.
“We know of another 30 PNG nationals who have finished and are working for other businesses all over Australia,” he said.
McGann said these people had secured employment in the competitive Australian market because of their “high level of skill and very solid work ethic”.
“Papua New Guineas are good workers so I believe training is a major contributor to job creation,” he said.
McGann believes the establishment of a suitable industry in National Capital District can eventuate with the support of the government and National Capital District Commission.
He said opportunities such as steel fabrication, concrete precasting, prefabrication buildings and trained specialised labour were being lost to PNG as nearly all were being imported to PNG today in massive quantity to support the PNG LNG project, Ramu NiCo and Lihir mine upgrade.
McGann stressed that 75% of all imported fabrication and labour could effectively come from PNG in time “if and only if” there existed trained, skilful employable workforce locally available.
“So training is an absolute must to create job prospects for the future in NCD and the southern region.”