More Papua New Guineans for Seasonal Work in Australia

Press release embargo till: 6 am  Thursday 27^th October 2011

Press Statement

Today marks another milestone in Papua New Guineas economic history with regards to providing job opportunities for ordinary, underprivileged, under skilled Papua New Guinean citizens and their communities. It is also a reaffirmation of the O’Niel- Nama Governments commitment to achieving the Go PNG Goals of Providing equal opportunities to all citizens’ women and men alike to contribute to the growth of Papua New Guineas economy and our progress in achieving the Medium Term Development Goals of ‘Eradication poverty and hunger[1]’, ‘promoting gender equality and empowerment of women[2]’ and ‘developing a global partnership for development[3]’ thereby increasing investor confidence for our country’s human resource development.

The Papua New Guinea Seasonal Workers Coordination office through the Department Of Foreign Affairs And Immigration in collaboration with the Department Of Labour And Industrial Relations is proud to announce the departure of 6 men and 6 women Seasonal Workers who are travelling to Ironbark Citrus Farm in Queensland, Australia, after much intensive training and preparation. Today Papua New Guinea sends off 12 young energetic, able bodied, men and women from various economic and cultural backgrounds from various provinces in Papua New Guinea.

This occasion is significant as it is an indication of the commitment and trust that has been established between the governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia by the first group of 9 Papua New Guineans who were hired by MADEC an Australian Approved Employer in Robinvale, Victoria. Their participation in the Pacific Seasonal Workers Scheme was crucial to opening the doors for more Papua New Guineas Participation in a competitive Labour mobility program that has been dominated previously by the Vanuatuan, Tongan, Samoan and Solomon Islanders.  Hence this group of 12 PNG Seasonal Workers carries the hopes of 3 million Papua New Guineans; their very presence in Australia will market, promote and further establish the potential of the PNG Labour market, thus consolidating confidence by Approved Australian Employers in acquiring/ engaging more Papua New Guineans on farms across Australia.

The PNG Seasonal Workers Coordination Office is committed to the facilitation of the Pacific Seasonal Workers Scheme and ensuring that ordinary, under skilled, under employed men and women of Papua New Guinea benefit from employment opportunities on farms in Australia and New Zealand .

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[1] Millennium Goal 1

[2] Millennium Goal 3

[3] Millennium Goal 8


PINA NEWS
http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=18423109564eaa11c2f5c3ce03e228

What the Pacific Seasonal Workers Scheme is about

Warning phonies posing as Employment agents for the PNG Seasonal Workers Program

PUBLIC NOTICE

1.      The Papua New Guinea Seasonal Worker Program is managed solely by the Papua New Guinea Government through the Papua New Guinea Seasonal Workers Coordination Office.

 2.       The Papua New Guinea Government has not appointed any person, entity (incorporated or not) group or coordinator (whatsoever the name or label) to be involve in the registration, recruitment, screening and/or selection of eligible Papua New Guinea workers for seasonal work in Australia and New Zealand or anywhere else in the world.

 3.       Any person or entity pretend to be PNG Seasonal Worker Agent for and on behalf of the PNG Government and collects fees will be guilty of False Pretence, forgery and thief and may be referred to the police for immediate arrest, charge and prosecution.

4.       The PNGSW Coordination Office does not charge any fees whatsoever for processing interested Papua New Guineans wishing to work in Australia and New Zealand.

5.        The PNGSW Coordination Office provides all the necessary / relevant forms FREE OF CHARGE to interested persons.

6.       The only statutory fees charged by various Government Agencies for processing documents can be paid directly by the applicant to The Department of Finance (Treasury Office in the Province / District as follows;

a)      Birth Certificate                                K25.00

b)      PNG Passport                                     K100.00

c)       Police Clearance                                K10.00

d)      Medical Check/Report                   K20.00

e)      Passport size photos                      K20.00

6. When all the forms are completed and checked against the “Checklist” at the basic of the Application Form;

a)      Document must be lodged with all the relevant attachments at the PNGSW Coordination Office, located on the Ground Floor, Moale Building, Waigani, National Capital District.

b)      PNGSW Coordination Office will register the application and issue a lodgment receipt to the Applicant for following-up purpose.

c)       The application is screened and if all in order, the Applicant will be placed in the PNG Seasonal Worker Work-Ready Pool Data for Selection by the Farmers or Approved Employers from Australia or New Zealand.

  The SELECTION of a worker for Seasonal Worker out of the PNG Seasonal Worker Work-Ready Pool is the prerogative of the farmer / Employer in Australia / New Zealand.

For information, if you wish to clarify an issue, do not hesitate to contact one of the officers on Telephone No. 301 1600 / 325 2532 or enquire personally at the office during Client-Open days; i.e.:  Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (half-day).

By PNGSW Coordination Office.