The Labour Mobility program, which has attracted over 10,000 ni-Vanuatu workers to Australia and New Zealand, is putting pressure on laws designed to protect jobs on the reserved list.

Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat, raised the concern during the launch of the new employment policy.

Napuat said the government is trying to balance the situation.

“When they decide to go, we can’t hold them back. But our challenge is when big numbers leave for overseas , what can we do? This is a decision we must act on. If the government continues to protect jobs for ni-Vans, but workers continue to leave and companies keep approaching the government, then we must find a way to bring workers back within the law,” he said.

The reserved list, signed by Labour Commissioner Muriel Meltenoven for five years since May 2020, states that positions such as cashiers, drivers/messengers, receptionists, security, cleaners and others must be held by ni-Vanuatu under work permit rules.

During a recent Parliament sitting, Opposition Leader Ismael Kalsakau questioned what Labour is doing to monitor and enforce these reserved jobs.

“We have to assure these roles, because now we see a lot of people coming in and taking over jobs that rightly belong to ni-Vans,” he said.

A local resident, Jimmy Robert, said the government also needs to reconsider the minimum wage, currently at 300VT per hour.

“Us ni-Vans , when we go outside, we see the difference. I think the government must lift the minimum wage to stop people from leaving the country to look for work,” he said.

Minister Napuat said a labour survey will help provide clearer data.

“With the policy in place, one of the seven strategies talks about labour data in Vanuatu. We will find out if more workers are really going overseas or if this is just a perception,” he said.

Another local resident, who did not want their name published, said there should be a limit between those leaving under labour mobility and those investing in their land, to ensure balance.