TOZAKA DISCUSSED LABOUR MOBILITY ISSUES WITH AUSTRALIA

Hon. Milner Tozaka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade MP for North Vella La Vella. Photo credit: GCU.

Foreign Minister Milner Tozaka has discussed the current Labour Mobility issues with Assistant Minister for Employment Honourable Luke Hartsuyker and the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment Honourable Steven Ciobo during his two-day visit to Australia last week.

Foreign Minister Tozaka raised the issue of increasing the caps for Seasonal workers in the horticulture sector.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat Office says this also consider the need to engage Solomon Islands workers in other sectors including Hospitality and Tourism and in the semi-skill trade jobs.

In response, the Australia Government assured Honourable Tozaka that it will consider providing assistance to the Labour Mobility Unit of the Solomon Islands External Trade Division.

SIBC News understands since admission into the Seasonal Worker Programme in 2012, Solomon Islands has experienced challenges in its participation in comparison to other Pacific Islands countries.