employment

Farmer supervisor, Kaile Korowi, said the farm employs 17 local boys;  six of whom are permanent hands, the rest are casuals. Security is minimum and there have been minor incidents, but they would like to maintain a friendly relationship with the locals.

“Comparing to other areas where I have worked and here at Launakalana, the community here are good. There is respect here. They respect the school, the workers, and the properties. There are some minor incidents that come up. However, generally the relationship with the community is good,” Korowi said.

The announcement was made after a visit to the Kilcoy Global Foods’ modern meat processing operations outside of Brisbane, in Australia, yesterday, who earlier this year, mobilised 41 workers from PNG under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. 

“The PNG Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) are keen to introduce the appropriate curriculum adopted in Australia for PNG, for the accreditation of our meat workers wishing to work in Australia, to give them the very best opportunity to both, gaining employment and maximising their wages,” said Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey.

The discussion ranged around the employment, skills development and impacts the project would have.

The Minister explored how this significant project could provide more jobs, support skills development and boost national productivity.

Namah called for swift and urgent government intervention after the media reported the laying off of 5,000 workers at the Majestic Seafood processing plant in Lae two weeks ago due to "lack of fish".

Earlier this year, it was reported that RD Tuna in Madang also laid off hundreds of workers at its processing plant for the same reason.

Both Majestic Seafood and RD Tuna are foreign owned companies given license to operate in the country.

Their processing facilities are among six fish loining and canning plants that currently operate in the country.

Tens of thousands of Pacific workers have already either lost their jobs or were on reduced hours.

Elena Gerasimova, from the ILO's Pacific office, said the organisation received requests for support from workers, employers and small to medium businesses.

"There are lots of complications, problems and challenges for workers, employers and governments because there is a serious, very serious impact of the Covid-19 on their employment and on economies.

"Lots of companies are closed while many companies may become bankrupt and people are losing their jobs."

Business expansion has boosted employment in regional areas, with RSE employers hiring more New Zealanders from the local community, including through Work and Income NZ.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) Pacifica Labour and Skills Manager, George Rarere says the 2019 survey highlights the positive impact of RSE workers on businesses and the local community.

“A stable seasonal workforce has meant more employers have been able to grow their business operations and put more investment into plant equipment and offer job opportunities to locals,” Mr Rarere says.

Senior Data Geologist (New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals) at MBIE Ian Dalla-Torre says the Geoscience Information team would commonly look for an intern to complete/assist with a specific piece of project work related to their geoscience information.

“Generally this would be a student from a New Zealand university however, in 2016 we received an inquiry regarding the possibility of hosting a PCF Summer Internship,” Ian explains.

This is according to the Bank of PNG’s Quarterly Economic Bulletin for June 2017.

The Central Bank said the private sector declined by 1.1 percent in the June quarter of 2017, despite an increase of 1.1 percent in the March quarter.

Excluding the mineral sector, the level of employment fell by 1.4 percent.

According to the Bank of PNG, employment decreased in the construction, agriculture, forestry, fishing, retail and manufacturing sectors.

The 32-page report “Fulfilling the land of opportunity: How to grow employment in Papua New Guinea” is based on a joint survey of over 230 businesses in Port Moresby, Madang, Mt Hagan and Lae in late 2017.

Covering five employment sectors from management and hospitality to clerical and administrative occupations, the report identified key factors preventing firms from hiring more staff, what skills businesses determine are most in need, practical impacts of the skills shortages and how Papua New Guinea can help grow employment.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has set out plans for them in the Budget.

He says these type of qualifications have not always been on an equal footing with academic ones - and wants that to change.

T-levels will allow 16 to 19-year-olds to study in 15 sectors in subjects like hair and beauty or construction.

The courses will replace thousands that are currently on offer and it's claimed they will make access to the job market easier.

Students in further education or technical college will also be eligible for maintenance loans.