SA DEPUTY PREMIER IN MANILA FOR TRADE AND LABOUR TALKS
South Australia’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry and Trade, Kevin Foley has expressed confidence his talks with the Secretary of the Department of Labour and Employment, Marianito Roque will lead to continued and targeted growth in the number of skilled Filipino migrants to South Australia.
The pair had a successful meeting in Manila as part of Deputy Premier Foley’s trade mission to the Philippines.
“My primary objective is to promote and strengthen cooperation between South Australia, and the Republic of the Philippines on labour, employment and human resource development,” Mr Foley says.
Mr Foley says the success of existing MoUs between the Republic of the Philippines and three Canadian provinces has been a catalyst for South Australia to follow a similar course.
He says the South Australian mission will be assessing local skills, particularly in the building and motor/metal trades, and investigating whether Australia’s strict immigration requirements can be met through cooperative arrangements around appropriate skills training and mutual recognition of accreditation.
“I have discussed our interest to Secretary Roque, which will act as a precursor to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between our two Governments.
Secretary Roque welcomed the proposal, commenting favourably on South Australia’s strong credentials for implementing successful immigration, settlement, and cultural integration programs and services.
He says there is valuable potential in a collaborative approach to ensure the welfare of his country’s overseas workers.
The Philippines now represents South Australia’s sixth largest source market for settler arrivals, many of whom are helping to ease demand for trade skills at a time South Australia is experiencing historic low levels of unemployment.
The mission has also included a number of industry representatives, Education Adelaide and representation from Immigration SA and the South Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.
Mr Foley says the South Australian government is planning a follow up visit to the Philippines with a delegation that will include a range of employer representatives.