Australians in Tonga to discuss new work scheme [1]
Monday, September 8, 2008 - 18:10. Updated on Sunday, October 26, 2014 - 15:54.
An Australian five-members delegation are currently in Tonga to hold talk with Tonga's Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries about sending seasonal workers to Australia.
The delegation arrived in Tonga on Saturday, and Sitiveni Finau from the Ministry of Labour said that they would be leaving tomorrow to visit three other island nations, Kiribasi, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.
Sitiveni said that the Seasonal Workers Scheme with Australia is a pilot scheme and during their meeting today they studied and earlier scheme that was made between Tonga and New Zealand.
The Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industries, Hon. Lisiate 'Akolo told parliament last week that Australia needed 2,500 seasonal workers during the next three years.
Australia needed the first 100 workers by December and Lisiate was hopeful that his ministry could negotiate for Tonga to supply all 100 workers.