Some 5,000 Tongan applications for the first seasonal New Zealand Work Scheme are expected before the closing deadline this Friday, April 13.

Sione Maumau, the Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Small Industries said today that the various Village Committees throughout Tongatapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai had completed the pre-selection process of screening their applicants last week, and the Ministry is now receiving their lists and application forms.

Sione said that every village in Vava'u, Ha'apai, Tongatapu and 'Eua has a New Zealand Work Scheme Committee, which is guided by their district and town officers.

Sione said that so far they had received about 2,000 application forms, but they were expecting to receive a total of 5,000 application forms for this first round of the New Zealand Work Scheme before April 13.

The names of the applicants will be entered into a database in preparation for the recruitment process by the New Zealand employers.

"The work scheme known as the Recognised Seasonal Employer kick starts on April 30," said Sione.

On April 20 the Tongan and New Zealand Governments will sign the Inter Government Understanding for the work scheme.

"After the work scheme is officially launched with the signing of the IGU, the New Zealand employers registered may then be allowed to come to Tonga to recruit their workers, and we are expecting that the first group of Tongan seasonal workers would leave for New Zealand around the end of May or in June," said Sione.