200 Ni-Vanuatu have been successfully processed for Australia's seasonal work programme.
Left - right: Mr. John Suran, recruiters for Madec and Commissioner of Labour, Mr. Lionel Kaluat Photo: RNZI/ Len Garae
The workers said they were in awe of their agent, John Suran, who lived with a disability, having no hands, but has travelled to Australia and faciliated interviews and arranged the placements.
Vanuatu's Commissioner of Labour Lione Kaluat said Australian farmers were focusing on Vanuatu to provide workers for their farms because ni-Vanuatu workers were hardworking, committed and had respect for their employers.
RSE worker offloads apples into a crate in a Hawke's Bay orchard. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Mr Suran had been dealing with the Madec company which will employ the 200 workers.
He said Vanuatu already held the record for workers in New Zealand with 3,700 workers, and now he was confident Vanuatu workers would eclipse their Tongan counterparts in Australia, although there were currently 3,000 Tongan workers in Australia, to Vanuatu's 1,000.