Transcript
ENELE SOPOAGA: This year I think we are around 81 - down to 81 - from the initial 99, almost 100 that we started with 10 years ago. I know there have been some issues but this is why I'm here. Hopefully we can pick up some improvements that we can help increase the number of employees coming from my country, from Tuvalu.
DOMINIC GODFREY: Tuvalu has a workforce available of, what, some 3,000 people?
ES: We do have a very young workforce, some have returned home after working on shipping companies all over the world, but since the crash of the global economy in 2008 there's been a big number of seamen coming home. So yes, indeed, we have quite a number of settlers: young men and women.
DG: So how would you like to see Tuvalu's participating grow in the future?
ES: I think it has to be a two-way system and I think, as I was commenting in the conference, perhaps it's a matter for our two governments to work on and encouraging the industries to also work on, but especially policy guidelines from both governments to expand the sectors of employment - not just fruit picking but also perhaps to seamanship. I know there are New Zealand companies that need additional hands of seafarers, qualified well-trained seamen that we can provide. Maybe also an extension of the scheme to other sectors as well; construction, building in New Zealand. We do have good capable young workers in that area as well.
DG: Those are largely areas, though, that aren't seasonal and require skills.
ES: No, no not at all and that's why we need to expand the scheme. We've done 10 years on seasonal and regional, I think we need to move forward the partnership to something more sustainable and permanent. Maybe move towards a readiness scheme or supply of employment that is two-ways: New Zealand and the Pacific island countries. Because we also need to think of the economies of the island nations. It has to be a win-win partnership. We cannot go on like the seasonal and regional and only benefit one side: New Zealand, for example. And we need to come to some sort of formulation that can also benefit the island nations and we have issues like education, capacity building in the islands so they can take more advantage of the employment opportunities in New Zealand or Australia. So you need vocational and technological training on the islands to take that advantage. Not just pickers. Because fruit pickers will come here for three months and then come home to do what?
