President Baron Waqa has thanked Australia for giving Nauru the opportunity to participate in the seasonal worker programme.
“I’m very happy with that and I’m very excited. Thank you Australia for giving our people the opportunity to participate in the programme and learn new skills and bring back to Nauru, President Waqa said.
Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull signed an agreement with President Waqa and the leaders of Kiribati and Tuvalu on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Samoa last Friday.
As a result of the agreement, about 2000 workers from the 3 Small Island States will be sent to rural and remote towns in Australia for up to three years to cover shortages in low and semi-skilled jobs.
The deal expands on the longstanding, farming-based seasonal workers scheme to include industries such as tourism and aged care.
Mr Turnbull said the plan would help the development of both Pacific Island states and regional Australian towns struggling to recruit workers.