Government urged to review labour policies to protect local jobs
March 14, 2024 10:41 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Nicholas Mwai.
The First Vice President of the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and a representative of the agricultural sector, Christophe Crowby, has called on the Government to review the country’s labour policies to prevent a decline in the local workforce.
He made the appeal on the second day of the National Economic and Investment Forum held at Warwick Le Lagon yesterday, which focused on discussions about boosting the primary sector’s development in specific areas.
One key topic discussed was the production capacity and the importance of local farmers in driving the agriculture sector forward.
In Session 7, titled ‘Localised Development of the Primary Sector,’ participants had detailed discussions that continued into the Questions and Answers segment. An important question was raised about production capacity, highlighting the role of local farmers in promoting agricultural growth.
Mr. Crowby pointed out the growing trend of Ni-Vanuatu nationals leaving to join the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme in New Zealand and the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) in Australia.
He stressed the need for the government to review the country’s labour policies to prevent a decline in the local workforce.
While Crowby recognises the benefits of programmes like SWP and RSE, which serve a significant portion of the country’s population, he urged the government to work together with the private sector to address labour shortages. Excessive participation in these programmes could lead to a shortage of local workers for essential industries like agriculture.
In response to these concerns, Timothy Tumukon, the newly appointed Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries, and Biosecurity (MALFFB), acknowledged the challenge posed by the government’s minimum wage policy.
He admitted that Vanuatu struggles to compete with the wage standards set by countries like New Zealand and Australia, where many Ni-Vanuatu workers are attracted to seek better opportunities.
DG Tumukon affirmed the commitment to uphold existing policies while recognising the need for dialogue to address labour migration and wage standards. He also noted the importance of discussions with the Department of Labour (DoL) to explore avenues for increasing the minimum wage without adversely affecting the broader economy.
