Forum organises meeting on labour market issues
PRESS STATEMENT (40/08)
23rd May 2008 MEETING TO DISCUSS LABOUR MARKET ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FICs The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat is organising a Private Sector Roundtable meeting to discuss labour market issues, challenges and opportunities for Forum Island Countries (FICs) The meeting will be held from 5 – 6 June in Nadi, Fiji with key employers and recruitment agencies including those from Australia, New Zealand, Guam and the European Union. “The aim of this roundtable meeting is to invite views and discussions from the relevant employers and representatives from the governments and private sector on relevant employment market issues,” says Feleti Teo, Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. “Discussions will also include temporary labour migration issues, challenges and opportunities facing the Forum Island countries (FICs) in meeting labour shortages in the identified key labour markets,” says Mr Teo. He explains: “We want the participants to have an increased understanding of the labour markets in terms of market information on skills requirement, working conditions, occupational sectors, visa and work permit requirements, duration of employment and possible training opportunities and how FICs can access these sectors. We would also like the FICs governments to strategise as to how best the Secretariat can assist them in being able to take full advantage of such opportunities for their people.” “What is clear is that Pacific island nationals will only benefit if government works closely with the private sector to make sure that the wide range of opportunities that are currently being created in a number of countries actually materialize and we can see our citizens going to work overseas and then coming home. This will only happen if we train our citizens and equip with them with the skills needed to work on the global market. ” New Zealand currently has the Recognised Temporary Seasonal Workers Scheme with several FICs and discussions are currently underway in Australia for a similar scheme for the Pacific. Guam is also providing employment opportunities that stem from the US military build-up. There are also a very large number of Pacific seafarers mainly from Kiribati and Tuvalu working on board German owned vessels. “Each of these are great opportunities for our people to get better wages and working conditions but they also come with challenges and we will need to prepare for them, No doubt there are many social issues that will have to be addressed as a result of all these temporary movement schemes but these are issues that stem from higher incomes and better opportunities for our people and therefore we welcome these challenges and look forward to working with our governments to address them,” says Mr Teo. ENDS. For more information, contact Mr John Licht, the Forum Secretariat’s Trade Policy Officer (EPA) on phone 679 331 2600 or email johnl@forumsec.org.fj. |
2008