Govt discussing with Aust to increase seasonal workers

MINISTER for Labour and Industrial Relations Alfred Manase says the Government is in discussions with Australia to consider increasing the number of seasonal workers from PNG.
Manase said PNG was the only country in the Pacific that had not been involved heavily in the labour mobility programme. He said at the moment the provincial focus was on Enga and the district focus was on Kavieng, New Ireland.
“We are trying this out together with the Australian government. I’ve had some discussions with them and have told them that PNG needs to increase its numbers.
“I’ve encouraged them to increase the numbers because we have a bigger population compared to the other Pacific island countries.
“We’ve got to get the framework right; we have not been involved heavily in this labour mobility,” he said.
Manase said it was just a short term intervention to be able to provide work for PNG citizens.
“We must be able to create more jobs here in PNG so the seasonal workers’ programme is for our people to get experience, develop good work habits and practices and earn some money before returning home.”