Take back PNG

A LOT had been said since Prime Minister James Marape decided to borrow Gary Juffa’s slogan “Take back PNG”.
I read almost everything, from fighting corruption to betel nut ban, however, I am yet to read anything on the massive loss of jobs and businesses to foreigners.
Work permit guideline issued by the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations goes on to state that the legal authority for reserving occupations for citizen employees is found in Section 12 of the Employment of Non-citizens Act 2007 and Section 10 and Schedule 2 of the Employment of Non-citizens Regulation 2008.
I have worked in the petroleum and mining industries for the last 10 years and I can confidently tell you that the reserved job list in schedule 2 is outdated by two decades or more.
How come this act was amended in 2008 yet did not capture the improving intellectual capacity and professionalism of Papua New Guineans?
Why is the responsible agency continuing to undermine the technical capabilities of its own citizens?
I also note the fact that our jobs are being sold out like hot cakes in Schedule 3 of the same Act!
Now, if the good Department of Labour and Industrial Relations is monitoring properly, it knows that more than 10,000 local jobs are currently being occupied by foreigners.
Given the permitted FIFO situation, the country is losing in multiple ways.
Given this situation, I call on the government to immediately amend this outdated Act and give back some jobs to your people.
The department must find a way to engage HR specialists from private Industries across all sectors and reclassify those occupations.
PNGans are ready to take on the world. Government, please create the avenue.

Albert Eka Bariagua