She says all these agents are based in Port Vila.
The Commissioner says over 100 workers will be departing on the first flight on December 21.
The next group of workers after will depart next year in January 3, 16 and 19.
âThere will be about 162 workers departing (on December 21) because the number of workers that are departing will meet the capacity of our national airline.
âAir Vanuatu can only uplift up to 162 passengers.
âThey will travel to Western Australia and the flight on third of January will go to Tasmania, and the other on 16 January will go to New South Wales and the flight on 19 January will go to South Australia,â the Labour Commissioner said.
A contract for the construction of the new Labour Department Offices was signed yesterday between the Minister for Internal Affairs responsible for Labour matters, and Deputy Prime Minister, Ishmael Kalsakau, the Australian High Commissioner, Sarah deZoeten, and the constructor, Alfred Loli, of the Loli Construction Company.
It was witnessed by the Minister for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Jay Ngwele, and senior government officials.
The Australian High Commissioner, Sarah deZoeten, said this is one of the important projects committed by the Government of Australia to the Government and the People of Vanuatu.
In response Minister for Internal Affairs, Ishmael Kalsakau, acknowledged assistance that the Australian Government has made to the people of Vanuatu over the years and in many sectors of economic developments of the nation.
Date Time
Queensland leading pack on reducing industry labour shortage
The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) welcomes the announcement from Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, The Honourable Mark Furner confirming the extension of the seasonal worker trial program until March 2021.
The extension of the trial in Queensland will enable growers to access workers from the Pacific via the Seasonal Worker Program and Pacific Labour Scheme (SWP/PLS) to assist in filling critical labour shortages.
“The extension of this trial is welcome news for horticulture growers in Queensland. The Queensland state government has been leading the charge on the restart of the Seasonal Worker Program announced by the Prime Minister back in August” said Michael Rogers, CEO AFPA.
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Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and the Victorian Farmers Federation have urged the Victorian government to immediately tap into a supply of 22,000 pre-approved Pacific Island workers who could cover a critical seasonal worker shortage on farms.
Amid finger-pointing between the state and federal governments, federal Nationals MP Damian Drum, whose electorate covers the Goulburn Valley region, warned Victoria had “days, not weeks” to avoid fruit rotting on trees and the prospect of inflated produce prices or shortages over the summer.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said fruit was rotting in Victoria without workers to pick it.
Credit:Jason South
Farm worker shortage expected to worsen as industry body says 26,000 workers needed nationwide by March
FriFriday 11
updated
FriFriday 11
DecDecember 2020 at 2:59am
This Queensland farm was forced to plough paddocks of gold squash back into the soil as the worker shortage became critical.
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Farmers have blamed a lack of international farm workers for crop losses of more than $22 million as fruit and vegetables continue to rot in fields.
Key points:
Crop losses are being reported on the National Crop Loss Register
The losses are expected to grow as Australia s agricultural workforce is expected to decline into next year