Discussions on mutual recognition of qualifications [1]
Friday, February 27, 2015 - 16:52
Pacific Island states are calling for a greater mutual recognition of qualifications between Pacific countries and Australia and New Zealand in the hope that it would boost labour mobility.
The calls were made during regional discussions on the proposed Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (Pacer Plus) in Auckland, New Zealand last week February 17-19.
The discussions were attended by representatives from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Resource persons from the Australian Qualifications Framework Council and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority were also present.
Currently many qualifications from the Pacific Islands are not recognized or partially recognised in New Zealand and Australia. For example, qualifications from the University of the South Pacific are recognized only if high points are scored.
According to the Pacific Islands Forum, the objective of the seminar was to consider a regional framework that recognises qualifications and to assure the mobility of qualified workers.
The Chief Trade Adviser of the PICs, Dr Edwini Kessie, stated “There is acceptance among PACER Plus Parties that greater labour mobility within the region will confer significant benefits on the PICs, which currently have preferential access to limited segments of the labour markets of Australia and New Zealand.”
“An agreement on mutual recognition of qualifications among the PACER Plus Parties would provide a further boost to labour mobility across various occupational areas and enhance the participation of the PICs in international trade,”
Mr Kinsella Geoffrey, Director of the National Training Council Secretariat, said that the seminar has enabled him to learn about the best practices on the recognition of qualifications from other countries.
Mr Geoffrey stated “I have been able to learn from other countries about the status of their National Qualifications and Quality Frameworks and determined how PNG’s Framework can be improved.”
Standards
A Mutual Recognition Framework among PACER Plus Parties will significantly raise the confidence and trust levels of labour receiving countries. It will give some form of assurance that qualifications have met some verifiable standards which, in turn, would promote greater labour mobility among qualified workers in the Pacific region,”
Ms Veniana Qalo from the Pacific Islands Forum stated “Exploring options on a regional mutual recognition of qualifications framework for qualified workers in the region is an important initiative. This can facilitate their effective mobility into regional and international labour markets, thus contributing to inclusive growth and sustainable development. The Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) labor mobility arrangement would also benefit from such framework,”
The PACER Plus is a proposed free trade agreement between Pacific Island countries and Australia and New Zealand. Further discussions on the issue of mutual recognition of qualifications are expected in Port Vila, Vanuatu next month in March.