THERE are growing calls for the responsible authorities to decentralise the recruitment process for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) to the provincial level in Solomon Islands.
This is to improve access and efficiency for Solomon Islanders interested in participating in the scheme. Currently, most recruitment activities are centralised in Honiara, creating logistical challenges and delays for potential workers from the provinces.
“Decentralising the process would empower provincial governments to play a more active role in identifying and preparing workers for overseas employment opportunities,” a concerned citizen from Western Province, Ronald Dive told Solomon Star in an interview, Tuesday.
Mr Dive added his voice to the growing calls, saying that the decentralisation of the recruitment process to the provinces could involve establishing provincial recruitment centres, the provision of skills training and language support and the facilitation of smoother travel arrangements for workers.
“This will also allow recruiters or employers from Australia to come directly to the provincial level to recruit many individuals who are desperately in need of employment opportunities.
“I recall when His Excellency Rod Hilton, the Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, spoke with the Premier of Western Province during his first visit years ago and promised that Australia would set up a recruitment office for the PALM Scheme in Gizo to help many unemployed people living in Western Province get a chance to work in Australia,” Mr Dive said.
He questioned the progress on this promise.
“Where is the latest update regarding the promise? Where is the Western Provincial Government (WPG)? Where is the Australian Government? Who and where are the responsible authorities?”
“There is still unfairness in the recruitment process in Honiara. Many individuals living in remote rural areas have not had any chances.
“If responsible authorities decentralise the labour recruitment to the rest of the provinces, many unemployed youths will get their chance, and we should now see fair recruitment selection done in the provinces.”
However, he warned that if no changes occur in the recruitment process, the country could continue to face increasing unemployment and rising anti-social behavior and crime rates amongst the unemployed youth as the government struggles to create enough jobs domestically.
Last year, WPG under its Youth Division also provided assistance to young people for the procession of their passports in Noro.
It is reported that a number of young people under the assistance of the Western Province Youth Division have had their passports processed in Noro, but are waiting for further interviews and the fulfilment of other requirements in the PALM Scheme recruitment process.
Many have questioned whether the Youth Division could assist another group of young people who need to process their passports in Noro.
Advocates argue that this approach would not only benefit workers, but also boost economic development within the provinces by creating local employment opportunities related to the PALM Scheme.
About 6,982 local workers are working in the agriculture, meat and aged-care sectors in Australia and Solomon Islands Government is planning to increase the number of workers to 16,000 by 2028.
According to the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI), remittances from Solomon Islanders working overseas under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme in Australia and the Recognized Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme in New Zealand reached a record high of $247 million in 2023. This figure was provided by the bank’s economics department.
‘’This represents a significant increase from 2022, when remittances from seasonal workers surged by approximately 64 per-cent to $182 million, up from $111 million in 2021,” it said.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
