Solomon Islands: Witnessing jobs on the rise.

Solomon Islands: Witnessing jobs on the rise.

Posted by : frank short Posted on : 29-Apr-2021

As one with having a keen eye on the Solomon Islands for many years and also one especially interested in development improvements in infrastructure, health care and employment, I am pleased to be witnessing a change in job prospects.

When the road construction work began in earnest in February 2020 opportunities arose for local people, hitherto unemployed, to gain paid employment at the Tina River Hydro Power Project site and I expect by now more local people will have secured paying jobs with the further development of the project.

Today, I was pleased to be able to write that 100 local people will find work in the development phase of the Honiara International Airport being funded by the Government of Japan.

With engineers and construction workers from China already in Honiara to see to the building of the facilities for the Pacific Games venues, including a national stadium, and engaged in constructing a local Campus for the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), it is expected, and previously confirmed by a government spokesperson, that a proportion of local workers will find themselves gainfully employment.

While the overall unemployment rate at home remains high, it is hoped the reported infrastructure plans the government has in mind will further ease the unemployment concerns of many.

The Seasonal Employment Workers (SEW) arrangements with Australia, in particular, has recently seen more than 200 local people fly out to Australia to take up work on commercial farms, lessening further the unemployment situation at home and, at the same time, providing the SES workers with a chance of remitting some of their foreign earnings to support families back home.

New Zealand commercial farmers, especially those involved in the fruit producing industries, have been crying out for SEW but recently many of the farmers have begun hiring Australian volunteers while waiting clarification, I assume, from the New Zealand Government, about a resumption or expansion of the SEW arrangements.

Comment.

Perhaps, it might prove useful for the SIG to release details of the growth in job opportunities since two years ago and indicate where and in what sectors more job opportunities will likely arise.

Yours sincerely

Frank Short

www.solomonislandsinfocus.com

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