1. Development Policy Centre, ANU
How is Australia & New Zealand’s Seasonal Workers Programs performing & what PNG can do to lift its numbers?
Richard Curtain
Development Policy Centre, ANU
PNG Update, 14 June 2018

2. Seasonal workers programs & triple win
benefits for workers and their families,
benefits for employers, and
wider benefits for the economies involved

3. Key question
How can Papua New Guinea gain more of the jobs available in Australia and New Zealand for short-term seasonal work

4. Numbers of workers in both Australian & New Zealand programs

5. Numbers of PNG workers in Australian & New Zealand programs

6. Which countries have been successful & why?

7. First and second mover advantage

8.   The relative share of workers from Tonga & Vanuatu in Australia by year

9. The relative share of workers from Vanuatu & Tonga in New Zealand by year

10. The situation in PNG  
The methods used by which Papua New Guinea has selected seasonal workers has limited employer interest in recruiting from PNG
Many in the Work Ready Pool said they were from rural areas but in fact many were residents in urban areas. Year 10 requirement and emphasis on English has led to urban bias.
PNG government has the sole power to initially select workers with employers having the final say. Recruitment agents not allowed.
However, employers prefer to use a trusted intermediary who knows the background of the workers eg now living and working in a village

11. Alternative approaches
Role of labour attaché or paid coordinator in Australia as a key contact person with and for employers
Direct engagement with employers in PNG eg Conference in Dili with employers
 Selection of workers in rural areas, as Fiji does
 Special support to connect with new Australian employers: the Boost Program in Solomon Islands

12. Alternative approaches
Women in Agriculture Pilot Project (WiA)
Five women from Jiwaka Province are the first group of women to travel to Australia under the Pilot program. The women have been selected by an intermediary because they experienced farmers who grow vegetables.
An initial barrier overcome was the Year 10 requirement for workers.
The upfront costs are significant. K2,100 for one way airfare, medical visa assessment, passport and two weeks accommodation in Port Moresby. Need for revolving fund to address this cost.

13. Boost Program in Solomon Islands
The program funds for up to two years the Honiara-based Pasifiki HR to employ a coordinator based on the east coast in Australia. The coordinator’s role is to promote Solomon Islander workers to Australian employers, develop relationships of trust, identify the demand for SWP workers and select workers who meet employer requirements.

14.  Conclusion
The examples of Timor-Leste, Fiji and Solomon Islands show that active policy intervention is needed to improve Papua New Guinea’s chances of winning more short-term seasonal work from Australia and New Zealand.
This policy intervention requires a focus on improving the recruitment process, from the setting up links with employers in Australia to the sourcing workers from rural areas and engaging with supportive communities to ensure that workers have the skills and commitment to make the most of the opportunities available.