A NEW relationship between Tonga and Gunnedah will make 'everyone a winner', with empty job vacancies to be filled and incomes to be earned.
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The Tongan High Commission have paid a visit to the Gunnedah shire, where it was decided Tongan workers would be sent to Gunnedah to fill job vacancies at local businesses.
It means employers needing an extra set of hands on the job will have the support of overseas workers who want to support their families by earning an income.
Gunnedah Business Chamber president Juliana McArthur said business owners in the shire had been actively trying to source local employees for some time, so they needed to source them elsewhere.
"We would welcome as a chamber to fill positions in the horticulture, agricultural, manufacturing and other industries where we cannot find locals to fill those positions," Mrs McArthur said.
"It's really important that we answer the demand for skilled labour for our businesses to survive."
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Multicultural Gunnedah's Eddie Whitham said the Tongan people were all "young men and they're all strong workers, they're not little people, they get the job done".
"The object of the whole thing is not to throw aid at countries but to use the people to benefit both ways instead of just sticking money in the back pockets of the wrong people," Mr Whitham said.
"They get a better income than they get over there and they're helping their families. Everyone's a winner, and we need thousands of workers in the countryside."
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said as part of the tour of the shire, the Tongan High Commission visited numerous local businesses and held an open seminar to any interested business owners who wanted to learn more.
"Council's skills and training working group are focused on securing immediate and long term solutions to these local workforce shortages. As part of this initiative we are extending a hand of friendship across the Pacific to offer Tongan workers an opportunity to gain experience with our local industry leading businesses and help support their families and communities," Cr Chaffey said.
"Gunnedah has so much to offer and we would love to see our whole community become part of this journey as we build our friendship with the people of Tonga."
But Mrs McArthur said what was needed now was eased restrictions for overseas workers entering the country, as no Tongan people would be arriving until this was sorted out.
"The NSW government is insisting on quarantine and they can't quarantine where they're working," she said.
"We need to open up some bubble arrangement with Tonga because some local businesses are desperate for labour."
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