No word from Australia on hopes for Pacific Labour scheme [1]
Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 10:20. Updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 - 16:27.
The introduction of a Pacific Islands Labour Mobility Scheme to Australia is still a possibility for this year but no direction has been made on when it might take place.
The Secretary of Tonga's Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Small Industries Paulo Kautoke confirmed on Monday June 16, that the Australian Government had not made any official communication to them regarding its directions on a new Labour Mobility Scheme.
He said although there have been many talks regarding the issue but no official communication had been made on when such a scheme might begin.
Paulo said to his knowledge, the Australian Government was still carefully studying the issue and closely monitoring the Recognised Workers Scheme to New Zealand.
This year
However, Hon. Bob McMullan, Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, in a visit to Tonga in February this year, indicated that they would make a decision soon.
He said the Australian Government would make the decision on whether they can move toward introducing a new Labour Mobility Scheme to the Pacific before the end of the year.