PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape has welcomed employers from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme to Papua New Guinea (PNG) as they arrive this week for the PNG-Australia Labour Mobility Expo.
The event, held in Port Moresby, marks a step in strengthening labour mobility ties between PNG and Australia.
“We are excited to have Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme employers visit PNG this week,” PM Marape said.
“Their participation in the first PNG-Australia Labour Mobility Expo in Port Moresby will enable them to learn more about the country’s labour mobility operations, industries, and workers.”
The Expo provides an interactive platform for Australian employers to connect with PNG’s labour sector, offering insight into PNG’s diverse industries and skilled workforce.
According to PM Marape, these visits emphasise Australia’s ongoing support for PNG’s participation in the PALM scheme, a program that allows eligible Australian employers to recruit workers from nine Pacific islands and Timor-Leste when local workforce supply is insufficient.
The PALM scheme has become a valuable employment avenue for Papua New Guineans and other Pacific islanders, providing stable work opportunities abroad while contributing to Australia’s labour needs across various sectors.