Transfer of skills from expats to locals is mandatory: Hulahau

TRANSFER of skills and knowledge to locals is mandatory for foreigners with work permits, chief migration officer Stanis Hulahau says.
“It is also compulsory for private companies to have proper training plans for its local employees,” he added.
In a six-day inspection operation by a joint task force comprising officers from the Immigration and Citizenship Authority, Labour and police in Madang recently, Hulahau said the Chinese-owned Ramu NiCo Management (MCC) Ltd was found not having proper skills transfer and training programmes or plan.
MCC told The National that in accordance with the memorandum of agreement signed between the company and concerned parties, Ramu NiCo has been conducting training to local employees as per the employment and training plans submitted to the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations every three years.
“In terms of training subjects, Ramu NiCo has developed more than 80 training courses in health, safety and environment training, heavy equipment operation training, special equipment operation training, special skills training, machine and tools operation training, and so on,” the company said.
“The company has engaged with many registered training organisations, governmental certification institutions as well as colleges and universities to conduct various of competency training and certification, such as human resource training, payroll system training, first aid training, route cause analysis training, mine management training, computer skills training and so
on.
“In terms of training objects, Ramu NiCo has developed some different training programmes and schemes, including apprenticeship training which targets graduating trades apprentices, post-graduate training which targets graduates from tertiary educational institutions, management training which targets promising managerial employees of the company, and general work skill training which targets less educated employees of the company.”
However, Hulahau said the team issued a total of K390,000 in fines and K450,000 in labour infringement fines.
“We will continue to carry out similar operations nationwide to ensure employers adhere to migration laws,” he added.
Meanwhile, a New Zealander of Chinese descent was detained at BIC-Bomana and will be penalised and deported for selling contraband cigarettes in Madang.