We are currently looking for a Research Officer with subject knowledge on labour mobility to assist us as a casual for several months. There may be the possibility for the successful candidate to apply for an ongoing, full-time Research Officer position later this year.
Unfortunately, our current labour mobility and migration expert, Henry Sherrell, will soon be moving into a new role at Parliament. We are looking for someone to take over Henry’s work writing blogs on Pacific labour mobility and migration, and compiling our monthly specialised email newsletter on this topic.
The role would involve around 10-15 hours of a work a week.
The ideal candidate would have strong writing skills, an understanding of labour mobility and migration issues (policy, industry or research experience on this topic would be particularly valued), and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
If you are interested in this role, please contact us at devpolicy@anu.edu.au (Subject: Labour Mobility Research Officer) with your CV and a brief covering email outlining why you would be a good fit. Applications close 4 June 2017.
I am concerned with the labour mobility issue for the Pacific Island countries being discussed and implemented while many of the Pacific Island countries do not have proper policies in place on to mainstream labour mobility into their overall development framework. The whole issue of migration-development nexus should promote a nuanced approach to development under which seasonal short term labour migration should be used for the benefit of the migrant, the sending community as well as for the destination country. I have just completed my research thesis on this topic with reference to PNG and my research shows that the Australia-Pacific Island Seasonal Workers Program – WAPSWP (2002) failed for Pacific Islanders because of institutional and political setbacks and they must be addressed before advancing such multilateral/regional programs to another level. I am ready to work with any one from this site wishing. Capacity building in the PICs remain a priority, that includes training, regime and policy updating and a whole of governments teamwork ready to work with IOM, ILO and other global organizations that could provide some technical assistance. The migration-development nexus needs to go beyond just labour mobility because without addressing the push and pull factor of migration labour flow is not feasible. Please contact me for further information if you gave any queries regarding the nuanced approach to a migration-development model that can work well for the Pacific Island community.