Seasonal workers heading to Australia have been warned not to drive under the influence of alcohol – as the government cautioned that it has a zero tolerance policy on alcohol.
Supervising Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Mr Cornelius Walegerea reminded the workers to be good Ambassadors recently before the latest recruits headed to Australia.
He said an area of concern raised during the briefing was driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Supervising Permanent Secretary warned that there is a zero -tolerance policy on alcohol and if anyone caught drink driving, they will face severe consequences both under the Australian law and their contracts will be at stake.
There had already been deaths related to drive drinking recorded amongst Solomon Islanders working under the programs in Australia.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade recently conducted a 2 days Pre- departure briefing for 66 Workers who will travelled to Australia this week and early October 2022 under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Meanwhile Walegerea said, “Our workers are known to be hardworking, reliable, honest, trustworthy and courteous. Please maintain that status so that employers can look towards us and recruit more workers. The Supervising Permanent Secretary stressed to the workers, “other Solomon Islanders who are in the work ready pool and are waiting to be called are banking on your support to help them. If you maintain the good reputation, those in the work ready pool will be selected. If you let them down, you let all of us down so I am urging you all to be good ambassadors”.
Out of the total 66 workers, 51 will be working in Meat Industries in Victoria and Queensland while 15 on a farm in Tasmania.