11 Feb 2019

Solomons govt to seek out employers in Australia and NZ

4:12 pm on 11 February 2019

The Solomon Islands' government is searching for more employers in Australia and New Zealand who might be interested in taking on their workers.

Janet and Roselyn at RJ Flowers Orchard in Hawkes Bay

Solomon Islands RSE workers in New Zealand Photo: RNZ Lynda Chanwai-Earle

The government wants to increase participation in the countries' various work schemes to more than 5000 by the year 2025.

The labour mobility unit in the ministry of foreign affairs and external trade estimates that by June this year there will be just over 1400 Solomon Islanders working in Australia and New Zealand.

Its director George Tuti said a marketing trip to Australia last year proved quite productive and so more are being planned this year.

"As a result of that there has been five other employers who indicated their interest in joining the scheme. So we are very happy with that. We are also planning another trip in March again in Australia and hopefully in the near future in New Zealand as well."

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