Foreigners taking over Jobs: Juffa

Many foreign owned businesses in the country have been employing foreigners in jobs which once was restricted to Papua New Guineans.

Governor for Northern Province, Garry Juffa, said many of these foreigners cannot even speak English which is a mandatory requirement into obtaining permit into the country.



Northern Province Governor, Garry Juffa.

“Almost 90% of the foreign employees have valid work permits but cannot speak English according to a survey we conducted in Oro.



Locals in my area have reported that the required three year mandatory plan for companies who are employing foreigners have not been enforced and none of them had received skills transfer training because they cannot even speak English.

Juffa said the situation is common all throughout Papua New Guinea and he questioned Labour Minister Benjamin Poponawa if stringent regulations are still followed into giving work permits to foreigners to protect local employment.

“Jobs such as drivers, plumbers, securities which were used to be restricted to our locals are now being taken over.

How is it that someone who does not know how to speak English have a work permit in the first place?” Guffa questioned.

Mr Poponawa admitted that there are issues with foreigners coming to take over jobs from without proper qualifications.

“Although labour workers are stationed throughout the country, there is lack of capacity in the department and the provincial government must assist labour office to work to enforce required regulations.

 “Some of these business visa holders are overstaying their welcome in the country. As we speak, a team is going around inspecting businesses in the country to inspect businesses. We need as much help as we can get from the provincial governments and other stake holders because labour alone cannot settle this issue overnight.”

Mr Poponawa said he has requested his departmental secretary to personally sight new work permits before they are issued as part of a stringent process he has put forward to address the issue.

He said since being in the portfolio for over a year he has managed to try his best to crack down on such activities.

“English is a mandatory requirement and I do not know how these people have surpassed the process to exist in the country. Some of us are going to the back and assisting these kind of people to come into our country and this must be stopped,” He said.