PNG needs 200,000 technically-skilled workers, says MP

PAPUA New Guinea needs more than 200,000 technically-skilled workers to fill vacancies available in the market, Goroka MP Aiye Tambua said.
“PNG is yet to produce technically-skilled manpower needed to work in specialised fields of welding, carpentry, bricklaying, boiler making, the list goes on.
“There are more than 200,000 vacancies yet to be filled, to date overseas professionals in technical fields are working in LNG projects, oil fields and mines,” he said.
Tambua said he felt obliged to play his part in helping Goroka students in technical schools, colleges and universities to acquire technical skills and knowledge to get employment.
He was at St Mary’s Technical College Kefamo campus to pay K100,000 to fee subsidies to Goroka students attending the school.
He was accompanied by Goroka Development Authority chief executive officer Benson Imara, Goroka electoral staff and executive officer Joe Seteri.
“I was working with a drilling and pipeline company in the initial stages of LNG projects and realised the need for skilled professionals in the project,” Tambua said.
“The skilled personnel were brought in from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.”
He said in PNG, there were Wafi-Golpu Project, P’nyang Project and Papua LNG coming up.
“We just cannot provide the skilled manpower needed, we even cannot provide 15,000 technical skilled workforce Wafi Golpu that is needing,” he said.
Tambua said he was going in line with the Government’s medium-term development plan four in developing technically-skilled workforce.
“In Goroka, I am promoting girls to go into technical trade skills, the district is paying full school fees for girls enrolling in carpentry, plumbing, motor mechanics and other trades,” he said.
Tambua said he wanted to see school infrastructure well developed for students to learn in conducive and enabling environment.
He supported the school to build a workshop and it is nearing completion.