SKILLED workers employed in various offices, including government ministries, who successfully applied for recruitment under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, have resorted to lies to get their way through the interviews and application procedures and this trend is continuing.
A source told Solomon Star recently that a good number of skilled workers currently working in offices in Honiara, including government ministries, have lied in their interviews with PALM agents under the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) about their employment status.
The source, who is one of the individuals that have been accepted for recruitment under PALM and left on Monday for Australia, said some employed people have gone to work in Australia as seasonal workers and more are leaving without the knowledge of their employers.
“They have applied without the knowledge of their ministries, offices and employers. They also resorted to lying in their interviews and applications that they are unemployed so as to secure seasonal employment.
“However, it is an undeniable fact that people in this country are in desperate to find good money through the PALM Scheme and send them back to their families here,” the source said.
The source said the fear is that if people are caught, they will be disqualified because LMU regulations clearly state that the PALM Scheme mainly targets the unemployed population.
“Already many skilled workers have left the country for seasonal work in Australia and also in New Zealand without the knowledge of their employers,” the source said.
Meanwhile, one senior government official said it will be better if employed skilled workers with successful PALM recruitment applications to give ample notice time to their employers so replacements can be found soon.
“Giving employers no notice or short notice will only destroy their name and branding by the Solomon Island Government (SIG) and other employers that have engaged them,” the senior government official said.
Meanwhile, 30 more Solomon Islanders left the country on Monday for seasonal work in Australia’s State of Queensland. The 30 includes 15 women.
More than 5000 Islanders are doing seasonal jobs in Australia and New Zealand.
By ULUTAH GINA Solomon Star, Honiara