Labour Mobility explains seasonal work procedure, calls on public to report concerns
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
The Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) has defended its seasonal work application and selection process in response to Opposition MP Derick Manu’ari’s accusations last week.
LMU also called on public to report any ‘irregularities’ within its process.
Opposition MP Manu’ari last week called on LMU to ‘step up in monitoring of applicants’, labelling its application and selection process as having ‘weak and ineffective’ monitoring measures which also lacked ‘fairness and objectivity’.
Mr Manu’ari was concerned that many applicants under the labour scheme used forged documents.
“It is concerning that there are reports of many applicants that have forged documents under the Labour Mobility Scheme.
“Reports of applicants forging school certificates and even police clearance is concerning,” Manu’ari said.
Manu’ari in accusing LMU and relevant authorities of not having proper mechanisms in place to carry out due diligence checks, called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAET) as the responsible ministry to investigate.
“It is more concerning that authorities especially the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) has no proper mechanisms in place to do proper due diligence.
“These issues only proved that the monitoring mechanisms in place are weak and ineffective. There is lack of fairness and objectivity.
“I am calling on the foreign affairs to investigate this matter and to make sure tougher measures are put in place.”
Manu’ari then called for ‘fairness and objectivity with selections of applicants’.
“To date most of the regions around the country are also under-represented,” he said.
In its response, LMU said it has partners in the process, and that each partner is responsible to ensure due diligence when an applicant is using its service.
It is understood LMU partners include offices in Immigration, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, National Referral Hospital, Police and some private practices of medical doctors.
The process to acquire seasonal work involves steps in which an applicant gets tested or an endorsement document from each of these LMU partners.
The LMU statement said: “… other government agencies … are in a better position to respond to reports of fraud, documentation of certificates or Police clearance. We encourage those with evidence of wrong-doing to report it to our office or relevant partners within the LMU process.
“We would also like to clarify that selection of workers is done by Approved Employers, each industry with a different list of specific criteria and with that, LMU does not have the final decision on who gets selected to participate in the Labour Mobility Programmes.
“On the current process of selection, all candidates are interviewed and screened into the Solomon Islands Government work ready pool. They are then given equal opportunity to be selected by employers.
“Here, LMU puts forward application profiles to employers, who then makes the final selection of workers based on industry needs.
“Accessing the Labour Mobility Programmes is free, there is no fee paid to licensed agents or any LMU staff. Money is only paid to services providers, passport, police clearance, panel doctors for medical screening.
“The recent comments by Manuari and apparent feedback by the public, reiterates our continuous call for those concerned to report irregularities within our process to assist in improving our systems. If any candidate has submitted questionable documents, please report that and allow us to carry out necessary reviews, verification and investigation,” the LMU statement said.
According to MFAET, from 2008-2024, the Australian Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme has seen 8,203 Solomon Islander workers.
New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme from 2017-2024 has seen 8,501 workers.
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