LABOUR MOBILITY PROJECT PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNGAI BENA

By Vicky BAUNKE, Goroka

A total of 38 unemployed people including youths from Unggai Bena district in the Eastern Highlands Province have now secured jobs in Australia and New Zealand through the Labour Mobility Project, an initiative of local MP Kinoka Feo, to create economic opportunities for Unggai Bena people through work opportunities overseas.

This is following the recent visit from the Legal Labour Mobility Office in Prot Moresby, and Farm owners in agriculture, Livestock from Australia who were in Goroka last Tuesday.

The team was received Unggai Bena MP Feo Kinoka and representatives from the different districts in the province including the provincal government.

The team included representatives from the Australian High Commission, Australian employers, and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, Horesford Farming Group Pty Ltd, GBD Consulting Pty Ltd, Approved Employers Association, Parkside Holdings Pty Ltd, and Agri-Labour Australia.

Among the Australian representatives were George Brett Dalgety and Cheryl Louise Dalgety of GBD Consulting, Mark Kaiser of Australia Backpacker Central, David Gregory Millard from Parkside Holdings, and Kellie Colvin of Agri-Labour Australia PNG Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) staff, including Assistant Director Esther Seymour and team and the First Secretary (Economics) from the Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea.

Unggai Bena MP Feo Kinoka during his welcome speech thanked the delegates for the visit to his district and to witness on the the ground the agricultural development plans for future partnerships.

Mr Kinoka highlighted that it is part of his vision for the economic growth of his district to help the people get out of the poverty problem in every opportunity possible and this was one of the way forward to empower locals and at the same time boost the local economy of the district.

As part of the visit the delegation were taken on a tour to visit the Worker Preparedness and Reintegration Project site at Masumave Village currently under construction, followed by a visit to the Kabiufa Adventist School Farm and concluded the day with a Mumu feast and traditional “singsing” performance at Unggai-Bena Urban Market, showcasing local cuisine and cultural heritage.