Update labour laws, take back our jobs

THE other night, I was glancing through Facebook when I came across a statement under the group PNG Labour Mobility Unit.
The statement was released by the unit and had a picture of some senior members of the cabinet including Prime Minister James Marape, Foreign Affairs Minister Patrick Pruaitch, Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, East Sepik Governor Allan Bird and some other people having dinner in a hotel somewhere.
The picture’s caption read ‘Government making progress on labour mobility’ caught my attention.
I read through the statement and it was about sending seasonal workers off to Australia and New Zealand.
Ling-Stuckey, who is responsible for the labour mobility unit stated that: “I spent a number of years watching with disappointment as opportunities bypassed our young people. When I became Treasurer in the Marape-Steven Government, I was determined this would end.”
This very quote caused me to stay up late and write this letter.
I would like to thank the Treasurer and the Government for initiating this policy that will help out our unemployed youths.
I’d like to bring to their attention that the jobs within our country are being taken by foreigners.
The jobs in the petroleum and mining sector, construction, production, factories, wholesales, retails, catering, housekeeping, supply chain, logistics, heavy machinery operations, and others are being taken over by foreigners.
In my view, this is because our labour laws are outdated.
Section 12 of the Employment of Non-citizens Act 2007 states; (1) A work permit allows – (a) a specified employer to employ a specified non-citizen in a specified occupation; or (b) a specified self-employed non-citizen to engage in a specified occupation.
Section 10 of the Employment of Non-citizens Regulation 2008 states “For the purposes of Section 12(1) of the Employment of Non-citizens Act 2007, occupations reserved for citizens are as specified in Schedule 2”.
Schedule 2 provides the preserved job list for PNG citizens and schedule 3 lists jobs foreigners can occupy.
The reserved jobs for Papua New Guineans listed in schedule 2 mentioned above are mere helpers and assistant jobs.
If you compare the jobs listed in schedule 3 of the same Act which foreigners can occupy in this country, it’s unbelievable especially after 45 years of independence.
This weak and outdated laws have kept our job markets open to cheap Asian labour markets, to be exact.
Our jobs are sold out like hot cakes in schedule 3 of the same Act!
What kind of a country continues to allow foreigners to reap its citizen off from basic opportunities like employment?
For example, if an Australian construction company wins a contract or a sub-contract in PNG that requires 20 tradesmen and 20 helpers, that company recruits the 20 tradesmen from the Philippines and then looks for the 20 helpers here.
That forces our tradesmen to be out on the streets.
In the last 10 years, I’ve worked in the petroleum, mining and constructions and I have seen this first hand.
It’s really frustrating to see my countrymen hanging around at the fences with their yellow envelopes while some foreigner with similar or less qualifications has taken his job.
In hardware stores around the country, you will notice foreigners doing sales, tilling jobs, warehouse jobs and almost everything else that Papua New Guineans can do.
What’s going on?
Where will our graduates work?
The Employment of Non-Citizens Act was last amended in 2008 but did not capture the improving intellectual capacity and professionalism of Papua New Guineans.
Why are we continuing to undermine the technical capabilities of our own citizens?
What do we think our universities and colleges produce every year?
Half-baked scones?
Come on PNG!
We can do better than this.
The Treasurer stated that: “Even with the setback of Covid-19, the labour mobility unit was on track to achieve the Government’s goal of having over 8,000 workers overseas by 2025.”
He is looking at five years and I’m looking at a year with two to three times his number.
The Government will be doing our graduates a huge favour by updating schedule 2 & 3 of the Employment of Non-Citizens Regulation 2008.
The Government, if it wishes to consider this advice, should engage experienced Papua New Guinean human resource managers and advisers across all industries and reclassify all job listings in both schedules.
Take back our jobs! Take Back PNG!

Albert Eka Bariagua
Concerned Citizen