Why recruit from Papua New Guinea?
Papua New Guinea (PNG) offers a unique opportunity for Australian and New Zealand employers to tap into a large and motivated workforce. Here’s why you should consider recruiting from PNG.
Benefits of hiring PNG workers
A reliable workforce
PNG has the second largest population in the Pacific, second only to Australia, with a diverse and sustainable supply of motivated men and women willing to join the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) schemes.
A rich talent pool
PNG’s large population offers a rich talent pool for diverse industries and ensures there is a wide range of skilled and motivated workers available for recruitment.
Easy access from Australia and New Zealand
With direct flights from Australia and New Zealand, PNG is easy and affordable to access. This makes it easier for employers to visit, meet the workers and their families, and conduct face-to-face interviews.
Step-by-Step Guide to recruiting from PNG
Become a PALM scheme employer or RSE scheme employer
Before you can recruit workers from PNG, you need to join Australia’s PALM scheme or New Zealand’s RSE scheme. There are several steps involved in this and your business will need to undergo a series of eligibility checks.
Submit a recruitment plan
- Submit a recruitment plan (RP) through the relevant PALM or RSE portals. After your RP is endorsed, contact the PNG Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) to discuss your workforce needs. Please note, we require a minimum of 5 – 6 weeks from the approval of a RP to mobilise workers.
Worker selection
- Once you’ve discussed your selection criteria with us, we’ll prepare a shortlist of candidates from our work-ready pool. You can interview candidates online or recruit in-country. The LMU encourages Approved Employers to travel to PNG to do the recruitment and engage with the LMU, Recruitment Hubs and the prospective workers. Visiting PNG is a great way to establish relationships and understand the cultural context of workers. It can also help you assess the suitability of candidates.
Medical screening and job offer
- The LMU will facilitate medical screenings as part of the visa application. This can take up to 2 weeks. Workers who pass the medical test are given an offer of employment and can successfully proceed to the next stage of the recruitment and mobilization. It is important that you explain the terms of the employment contract to workers, although we can help you with this.
Visa application and pre-departure briefing
- PALM scheme employers are responsible for visa applications, booking flights and other travel arrangements. All booking details, copies of tickets and other travel details are then sent to us at the LMU and we print them out and give them to the workers during their pre-departure briefing.
Travel to Australia
- We will help workers prepare for their flights and ensure they check in at the airport. We will then take a group photo and send it to you as an update. You are also welcome to travel with your employees.
On-arrival briefing
- You will meet the workers at the airport when they arrive and arrange for an on-arrival briefing for them once they get to their worksites.
Read about other businesses that have successfully integrated PNG workers
Aged care worker finds a home away from home in regional Queensland
In less than two years, 23-year-old Michelle Bart's life has changed in ways she never imagined possible. "It's a dream come true; I have the opportunity to build my own house and secure my future at a much faster rate than I ever thought possible," she said.
Workers return each season to Ironbark Citrus
Ironbark Citrus in Queensland’s North Burnett region has a long history of employing workers from Papua New Guinea through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
Work readiness project equips women with work and life skills
Hailing from Papua New Guinea’s mountainous Enga province, 40 women have hit the ground running in south-east Queensland in their new working life as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
It's not often you don't see them smiling
Rocky Ponds Produce in Gumlu, North Queensland, relies on workers from Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu to ensure its capsicum and melon products reach the customer.
Contact us
By participating in the PNG labour mobility program, you contribute to the economic growth of PNG while addressing your labour needs effectively. Join us today and make a difference!
For more information or assistance, contact
us at [email protected] or call +675 7285 7281 or +675 7391 4173