The government is urging for greater participation from traditional communities, known as vanua, in equipping villagers for overseas job opportunities under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Maritino Nemani, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Employment, stressed the importance of a collaborative effort that encompasses families, communities, and government initiatives. “We need to involve the families, we need to involve the vanua,” he stated.
Mr. Nemani pointed out that many of the potential workers originate from rural areas, making community engagement crucial. The registration process for those wishing to work abroad has been updated to require families to inform how many children they have, in order to better grasp the familial responsibilities of the workers and the effects of their absence.
Furthermore, Mr. Nemani noted that the Fijian government has acknowledged a need for enhanced pre-departure training for workers. This training period has been extended from four days to two weeks, allowing for a more thorough preparation before workers travel overseas.