BY ALEX DADAMU
THE Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Jeremiah Manele has confirm that currently the country do not have an approved ‘Private Consultant’ to deal with Labour Mobility Unit’s requirements and travel arrangements.
Hon. Manele made the clarification when replying to a question by the Member of Parliament for Small Malaita Constituency, Hon. Rick Hounipwela today on the floor of parliament.
Hon. Hounipwela questions the Ministry and the Labour Mobility Unit to verify and give names of any so-called private consultants that the Ministry has approved to deal with applications, medical and travel arrangements.
However, in response, Minister Manele said that the country at present do not have any approved private consultant dealing with issues of the Labour Mobility Unit.
Minister Manele said the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) noted that a so called ‘private Consultant’ have been collecting names of people and promising them work in Australia under the Labour Mobility Scheme.
“As a Ministry and unit, we do not tolerate such actions by individuals and we do Deplore such activities.
“I have also received a number of letters from several people in my Constituency from the so called ‘private Consultant’.
“In that instant, I called the Director of the Labour Mobility Unit to verify whether the person is an approved Consultant to which it was confirmed that he is not.
Hon. Manele meanwhile confirmed that as for the seasonal workers scheme for New Zealand, the country currently do have four (4) recruitment agents (with another 2 recently approved totalling to six) which the ministry put out for public information at the Ministry’s website.
The Minister when asked about the list of approved clinics or medical doctors for medical examination, he said that currently there are only two (2) private medical clinics that are selected and accredited by Australia and New Zealand.
“For X-rays, along with the National Referral Hospital Radiology Department which is approved to use by applicants of the Labour Mobility Scheme, recently a private Radiology clinic had also been approved and accredited by the 2 countries,” Hon. Manele said.
Sunday Isles understands that Solomon Islanders working overseas under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) and New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Workers Scheme has gone passed the 4,000 mark and the national government is projecting to pass the 5000 plus mark by the end of 2023.
