Train our people for our job markets rather than bringing expatriates – Radrodro

SODELPA parliamentarian, Aseri Radrodro says it will be best to train our people for our job markets rather than bringing many expatriates that we have to rely on like the half a million paid CEO of the Land Transport Authority who he says is a terrible burden on the taxpayers.

Radrodro says he welcomes government’s announcement that the civil service cadet-ship program is being re-established because this type of nurturing and upskilling drives and helps the labour market become resilient and provides a ready-pool of trained employees.

He says this initiative is timely and warranted as many of the top career civil servants went through such training.

Radrodro then questioned as to why road rehabilitation programs continue to be outsourced to foreign companies like China Railway Group and Higgins whilst the rehabilitation and restoration program budget has consistently been significant amounts, and the quality of work done remains questionable.

Radrodro says they are raising concerns on the utilisation of significant expenses on foreign companies like China Railway Group when a local company should be supported with work that develops a capacity of Fiji’s domestic market in experience, expertise and employment opportunities.

He further says that it seems works carried out on our roads are no longer as consistent nor up to a professional standard as it used to be during the days of the Public Works Department.

Meanwhile, Radrodro has congratulated government and its officials who continue to work around the clock to address and eliminate any further lingering COVID-19 threats in our communities.