Villages will not be emptied by the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Parveen Bala, while bidding farewell to 108 selected Fijian workers under the scheme.
Bala highlighted that these comments were made by some individuals without contemplating the benefits it brings to Fijian families and their communities.
The Minister says this scheme will improve living standards for the families of the selected workers and it is the current Fijian Government's initiative towards alleviating poverty.
Bala adds the scheme has caused transformation and empowered Fijian families to have improved living standards through better homes, support for their children's education, financial assistance towards community projects such as the construction of community halls and churches and the establishment of small businesses in the community, to name a few.
He further says this initiative will minimize rural to-urban drift for employment opportunities in towns and cities as these workers continue to develop their community through remittances received.
Bala has also urged youths to register their interest in overseas employment opportunities.
While handing over income generation projects in various districts around the country, Bala stated that Fijian workers are in demand by Australian employers and currently the industry that is in high demand is the aged care industry.
He says to qualify for the aged-care employment opportunity, individuals must undertake aged-care courses with recognized institutions such as APTC.
Bala adds whilst they would like to send as many aged-care workers as they can, they must be mindful of certain standards that Australia requires in this industry.
The Minister says it is recommended that youths go for the courses that are more in-depth and could take them up to six months to complete.
Bala highlighted that some groups have been offering aged care courses for the duration of 2 to 3 weeks with a $350 course fee.
He has called on this group to stop misleading Fijians with non-recognised certification on aged care with high course fees.
The Governments of Australia and Fiji only recognise APTC certification given the Australian standards required under the industry.
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