Transcript Document

Presentation
By
Mr. Alexis Maino
Deputy Secretary (Operations), DFAT and
Chairman, Papua New Guinea Seasonal Worker Taskforce
17/07/2015
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PNG on the world map
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April 2008, PNG asked to be included in the
Australia’s Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot
Scheme (PSWPS)
PNG/Australia Joint Working Group established
after Madang PNG/Australia Ministerial Forum
August 2008, Australian Prime Minister agreed
to include PNG with Vanuatu, Kiribati & Tonga
PNG Seasonal Worker Taskforce established
and Chaired by DFAT
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The PSWPS is for 3 years involving 2,500 (estimated 650 visa
for PNG);
PNG Seasonal Workers travel to Australia commencing
October 2009.
November 2008 - Australia signs MOU & FA with Tonga,
Vanuatu & Kiribati
First reviewed of the pilot scheme concluded in July 2010
without PNG’s participation
July 2010 - PNG/Australia signs MOU & Facilitation
Arrangements (MOU&FA)
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1.
DFAT is the lead coordination department in collaboration with
the Department of Labour & Industrial Relations
2.
PNG SW Ministerial Oversight Committee Chaired by Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Trade & Immigration
3.
PNG Seasonal Worker Taskforce Chaired by Deputy Secretary
(Operations), DFAT
4.
PNG SW Coordination Offices in Port Moresby & Sydney,
Australia is co-jointly managed by DFAT and DLIR
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Department for Community Development & DPGLLG to cojointly prepare and assist Post-return workers to reinvest
repatriated funds at their respective home Districts
District coordination involving stakeholders & communities
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Market research and marketing
Developing program awareness and advertising
Developing work-ready pool
Liaison with interested employers in Australia
Liaison with Australian Government
Worker selection
Assist pre-departure paper work and clearance
Pre-departure orientation
Pastoral care and protection of workers rights
Post-return worker assistance
Data management, analysis and reporting
Strategic planning and management
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Government relations, marketing, pastoral
care: MFATI and DFAT
Worker protection, employment contract
verification, labour laws, recruitment
management and labour data: DL&IR
Provincial and District level institutional
relations and selection system, post-return
worker assistance: DCfD and DP&LFA
Public awareness design, Pre-departure
orientation design and delivery: All Agencies
(Taskforce)
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PNG Government approved PNG’s participation in the
Australia’s PSWPS and New Zealand’s Recognised
Seasonal Employer Scheme (RSE)
Approved K5.8 million funding to be managed thru a
Trust Account - PF(M) Act 1995
Direct Dept. Finance, Treasury and DNPDD to
integrate annual funding for PNG seasonal worker
program as an recurrent activity – budget
appropriation
4.
Establish Coordination Offices in Port Moresby and
Sydney and transfer to DLIR (after the pilot period)
5.
Establish PNG labour sending arrangement in
collaboration with DLIR
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PNG approved MOU&FA and authorised MFATI to
sign for PNG
In July 2010, Foreign Ministers of two Countries
signed the MOU&FA in Alotau, Milne Bay P
Direct Heads of DP&LGA and DCfD to co-jointly
establish Inter-Agency Working Group to assist and
guide post-return workers to reinvest (repatriated
funds) in productive activities in their home
Districts
IAWG program Heads to report progress to NEC
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Priority Tasks for 2011
Outcome
Activity
Funding of K5.8 million
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Signing of Trust Instrument;
Establishment of Trust Account; and
Mobilizing Funds and Integration into
annual budget appropriations
Minister for Finance &
Treasury, DF, DT, DNPDD,
DFAT
Establish a fully operational office in
Port Moresby and Sydney
DLIR, DFAT and
Department of Treasury
Establishment of PNG
Seasonal Worker
Coordination Offices
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PNG Workers to participate in
the New Zealand RSE
Funding
Establish Taskforce for Return
Workers
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to prepare and Market PNG workers
under RSE
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World Bank Report and
International Organization for
Migration (IOM)
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Responsibility
MFATI and DFAT
Draft a Terms of Reference;
Cost Projections for NEC approval; and
Integrated District Development Plan
involving return workers
DLIR and DFAT
Institutional Strengthening Project,
Capacity Building Project and Technical
DFAT, DLIR and DNPDD
Assistance
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1.
Establishment of Trust Account remains critical
2.
Release of funds on time – absolutely necessary now
3.
Hon. Peter O’Neill, MP approved K2 million out of K5.8
million in October 2010 (K1 million approved on Thursday
24/02/2011)
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PNG participation in PSWPS placed in jeopardy
5.
PNG workers must participate to be evaluated in PSWPS
before the pilot scheme expire 31 December 2011
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PNG has no experience in labour sending program –
competing with other established Pacific Island States
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1.
Propose to select and recruit 10 out of 20 PNG seasonal
workers
2.
Region: Robinvale in Victoria, Australia for a period of
four (4) months work – pruning almond trees
3.
Timeline: Selection concluded by 20 April 2011
4.
Pre-departure Orientation Seminar: PNGSWT, DEEWR,
Aus-AID and MADEC from 2nd to 6th May 2011
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Return to PNG:
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PNG worker will be paid minimum AU$19.00 per hr @ 48
hrs per week (average) for 4 months ONLY.
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Mid-September 2011
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Pursuant to Clause 13 of MOU&FA, the Secretary DFAT can
consent to changes to FA – PNG Dip. Note
The changes are as follows:
 PNG worker guarantee 30 hrs per week for 6 months
 PNG worker guarantee 35 hrs per week for 5 months
 PNG worker guarantee 38 hrs per week for 4 months
 International fares reduced from 50/50 to 45/55 to be
paid by employer and deduct from worker (45 precent)
 AU$100 for internal transfer (airport to accommodation)
and deduct from worker’s earning later
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Importance of Seasonal Worker Export for PNG
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Policy Considerations:
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Acquisition of employment skills, work ethics, savings by
workers
Reduce urban drift in PNG
Promote reinvestment of worker remittance into
productive areas in districts of workers
Promote horticulture in districts of worker origin through
collaboration with Australian horticulture sector
Ensuring equity of spread of benefits from all regions of
the country
Est. 31 percent of people aged 15 or over have no cash
income earning activity
Est. 50,000 young people leave school each year – formal
sector absorb only a small proportion
Population growth rate is high and predicted to double by
2026
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1.
MOU&FA negotiated with Australia in 2008 and concluded in
2010
2.
NEC Decision No. 81/2009 authorise PNG to negotiate a similar
MOUFA with New Zealand
3.
Employment Placement Services Act, 1966 (Chapter 172) need
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DLIR - Labour Market Information System and Data
management system welcomed by Taskforce
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urgent review by DLIR
PNGSW Taskforce sought World Bank & International
Organization for Migration (IOM) to assist PNG (National
Employment Division) with its institutional strengthening and
capacity building Technical Support & funding
Holiday Worker Scheme and Student Holiday Scheme need to be
concluded soon with Australia & New Zealand by DFAT
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The eligibility criteria are:1.
minimum Grade 10 - 12, preferably with an appropriate
vocational training certificate
2.
have a working knowledge of English language
3.
be of good health (fit for work) and good character (no criminal
conviction);
4.
be unemployed at the material time
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be within the age bracket from 21 to 45 years
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Marital status: married (spouse consent required)
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commitment to return to the community with a goal for family
and community development
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The eligibility criteria continue:7. be a citizen and is a resident in Papua New
Guinea.
8. Commitment to return to PNG after work
in Australia
9. Medical check & clearance (TB, Diabetes,
HIV/AIDS, etc.) require hospital in
Australia
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1. AAEs/ARAs provide a list of worker
specification to PNGSWT
2. PNGSWT identify suitable workers from
the “work-ready pool” for AAEs/ARAs
3. AAEs/ARAs select the suitable worker –
letter of invitation sent to prospective
worker
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1. Selected workers move from Districts to Port
Moresby for further checks, testing, signing
of contracts with AAEs or ARAs, 2 weeks
orientation seminar, visa processing and predeparture briefings
2. PNGSWT & AAEs coordinate successful
workers to Australia. The workers are placed
in the various farms by AAEs/ARAs & PNG
Liaison Officer in Australia.
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1.
On-arrival orientation briefing provided by AAEs with local
government, unions, community groups and PNG Liaison
Officer
2.
Australian Workplace Ombudsman ensure that PNG Workers
are not exploited by AAEs
3.
PNG workers will be protected by the Australian workplace
laws & will enjoy same terms & conditions of employment
whilst working in Australia
4.
PNGSW Liaison Officer will also provide support to workers
(pastoral care) and assist AAEs with return arrangements
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1. PNG worker return to Papua New Guinea after the
agreed visa period
2. The RWs will be received by PNGSW Coordination
Office in Port Moresby (Jackson's Airport)
3. The RWs will undergo a week “on-return
debriefing” and prepare RWs for career &
enterprise options in their home districts
4. The Department for Community Development and
the Department of P&LG Affairs will manage and
facilitate the RWs back to their home Districts &
local communities
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1. Dept. of Community for Development & the Dept. of
Provincial & Local Government Affairs is the con-joint
lead implementer for post-return workers
3. Receive return workers in Port Moresby for debriefing
and to assist and guide workers to reinvest
repatriated funds in wealth generation activities in
their home districts
3. Develop a collaborative Repatriated Seasonal Worker
Strategic District business Plan for return workers.
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1.
Economic stimulus for broad-based sustainable economic growth and
greater self-reliance for rural families & communities in the Districts – reinvest in
activities to generate wealth in the rural areas
2.
Consistent with Vision 2050, the boarder Medium Term Development
Strategy (MTDS), Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - (MTDS review must see
the Scheme as a development opportunity as Foreign Aid alone can not solve all
the complex socio-economic challenges of PNG
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World Bank Study-World Banks Global Economic Prospects 2006 indicates
that international migration and remittances both have strong impact in poverty
reduction; in 2005 remittances received by developing countries totaled US$ 167
billion. The world wide remittance was at US$ 232 billion in 2003
4.
The 08th Pacific Economic Study published by AusAID in March 2008 states
that “Remittances are becoming increasingly important to the Pacific. Since 2000,
remittances have grown on an average 36 per cent per year to reach US$425
million in 2005”.
5.
PNG workers (600) could return to Papua New Guinea with around AU$ 3.6
million to AU$6 million or PNGK4.8 million to PNGK20 million to be spent at the
District and rural areas in Papua New Guinea as repatriated wages directly to
families and Districts (economic stimulus for the rural communities).
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1.
PNG Labour Mobility (SW) Trust Account will be
established under Sections 15 & 19 of Public
Finances (Management) Act 1995
2.
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, PNG SW
Coordination Offices & PNGSWT manages the Trust
Account
3.
Requirement for monthly & annual reporting to
Treasury thru PNGSWT, including audit of finances
under the Audit Act 1989 (Report by Minister to
Parliament).
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PNG Government at the highest Executive level want to make
the Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme a success
PNG seasonal worker program is consistent with PNG Vision
2050, MTDS, MDG to assist and guide Papua New Guinean’s
into wealth generation activities, targeting 85 per cent of our
poor rural people
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The PNGSW Taskforce, DFAT, DLIR & the Coordination Offices
are keen and willing to make it a success
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Given the time, motion and resource limitations, we need your
support and involvement as a program partner.
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Together, we can deliver and sustain a robust PNG Labour
Export and Marketing System (e.g. domestic extraction industry
(LNG & mining) and RSE, HWS & PSWPS)
Thank you and if you allow, I
could take a question.
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