Government needs dedicated seasonal workers with a clear focus under the seasonal work scheme and programme for both Australia and New Zealand.
This was highlighted by Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Hon. Semi Koroilavesau this week during consultation talks in the Northern Division.
“Due to the complaints received under the Australian Seasonal Worker Programme and the follow up ministerial visit by the Ministry earlier this year, it has proven that there is a need to review the seasonal work recruitment and selection criteria,” Minister Koroilavesau said.
“The two major issues that have been reviewed were the increase of the Body Mass Index (BMI) from 29 to 33 and the focus to recruit from isolated rural areas.”
Minister Koroilavesau added that one of the major challenges witnessed in the initial open recruitment and selection criteria is the selection of workers that did not have any skills and experiences in agricultural farming work.
“The increase in BMI opens up more employment opportunities for overseas seasonal work and meets employer requirements,” Minister Koroilavesau said.
“It also ensures that the vanua/tikina and the community are responsible and accountable for their representatives selected.”
Seasonal work requires a lot of manpower and workers with skills and experiences in agricultural farming and those who can also adjust to the different weather patterns in Australia and New Zealand.
“Dedicated workers with a clear focus are the ones who will open up doors for more employment opportunities and also ensures the best retention rate of Fijian seasonal workers,” Minister Koroilavesau said.
The Honourable Minister urged all community members of Tikina Nadogo and Tikina Saqani yesterday (10/08/16) to work together for the successful rollout of the scheme and programme.
The team will meet with Tikina Vuna, Taveuni and nearby villages at Navakawau Village from 1.30pm to 3.30pm tomorrow (12/08/16).