Caption:FORES staff and Ministry of Health medical officers examining clients as Hon. Minister Jioji Konrete observes.Photo:SUPPLIED.
The Foreign Employment Service (FORES) of the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations began the screening process to select 30 personnel, who will be employed in New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture industries, under the Recognized Seasonal Employer pilot scheme.
The selection process commenced with the medical examination on Thursday January 29, at the Suva Civic Centre.
A total of 133 applicants from the Central and Eastern Divisions and 169 from the Northern and Western Divisions completed their medical examination. This process is part of the specific selection criteria that was advertised last week.
The medical examinations were conducted and supervised by the Ministry’s Medical Officer, Dr Rauni Tikoinayau who was assisted by medical personnel from the Ministry of Health.
Following the medical examination, successful applicants will be subjected to a physical test on Saturday, January 31 which will be conducted by physical training instructors of the Fiji Police Force.
It is imperative that the applicants are put through this stringent specific selection process as they will have to work long hours under challenging work and weather conditions in New Zealand.
The applicants were made to understand that the scheme is demand and employer driven, which means the employers have the prerogative to make the final selection of workers.
The success of the whole scheme depends on the performance of these 30 personnel in this pilot scheme.
DEPTFO