Tag: recognized seasonal workers

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Solomon Islands Participate at the 2023 Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting in Vanuatu 

Solomon Islands participated at the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 20-25 November 2023 in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

The Solomon Islands delegation was led by His Excellency, Robert Sisilo, the Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia.

A two days’ workshop and 3 different labour  mobility related meetings were held over the five days conference, to give an opportunity for all 10 Countries participating in the Australia and New Zealand Labour Mobility Schemes, as well as all key stakeholders across the region, to come together to discuss issues on Labour Mobility and find collective commitments to address issues affecting pacific workers, approved employers, and governments of receiving and sending countries.

Discussions on the PLMAM 2023 focused more on sustainable Reintegration approaches featuring dialogues on economic, social, and psychological reintegration, regional initiatives and learning best practices from ASEAN guidelines.

Solomon Islands acknowledged the ongoing support from Australia and New Zealand governments on implementation of the RSE and PALM scheme to reach the 2023 milestone targets and committed to supporting employers to meet worker demands.

Accompanying the Solomon Islands High Commissioner were officers from the   Department of External Trade and Labour Mobility Unit, National Development Division/Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority as well as an officer from the Solomon Islands High Commission in New Zealand and Solomon Islands Country Liaison officer in Australia.

MFAET PRESS

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Solomon Islands at the Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) Annual Conference 2023

Horticulture New Zealand hosted the annual RSE Conference in Christchurch from the 1st  to the 2nd of August.

The 16th RSE Annual Conference brought together the Pacific and RSE employers to share learnings and discuss the future of the scheme. Speakers included Pacific representatives, government officials, RSE employers and workers.

Solomon Islands delegates to the RSE Conference were led by His Excellency Eliam Tangirongo (High Commissioner to New Zealand), and included Christina Maoma (Research Officer, LMU) Simon Kere (Marketing Officer, LMU), and June Rofeta Maenu’u (Second Secretary, Solomon Islands High Commission in New Zealand).

Delegates spoke at segments of the conference – specifically on strategy updates, cultural competency and at the closing panel for the conference.

For Solomon Islands, the conference was an opportunity for delegates to converse with employers, market its workers and establish a relationship with potential new employers. LMU and the High Commission of Solomon Islands in New Zealand aim to strengthen trust with employers, improve processes, and ensure consistent engagement amongst all stakeholders.

Given that there are currently 2000 in the Labour Mobility Unit’s (LMU’s) work ready pool – and an additional 16,000 applications for both the NZ and Australian seasonal labour schemes this year alone – there is an urgent need to increase numbers in NZ’s RSE Scheme and is a priority for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & External Trade.

Following the conference, delegates visited Solomon Islanders working under the RSE Scheme in Nelson and Blenheim.

Picture: L-R High Commissioner H.E. Eliam Tangirongo, Simon Kere (Marketing Officer, LMU), June Rofeta Maenu’u (Second Secretary, SIHCNZ), Christina Maoma (Research officer, LMU).                                                                                                
Picture: Delegates with employer and workers at Seifried Estate (vineyard) in Nelson.