By Bradley Mariori
Despite being Morobe Province’s newest district, Wau Waria is now the only district hub, apart from Lae District, sending school dropouts into the international workforce through the PNG Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) Program.
Three more Wau Waria youths departed this month for overseas employment, bringing the total number of district youths working abroad to seven.
The three youths have signed four-year employment contracts with Casino Meatworks/Food Company in Australia.
Wau Waria MP Marsh Narewec initiated the LMU program in 2024. Under the program, the district enrols school dropouts in tertiary institutions, with all training expenses covered by the District Development Authority (DDA).
Wau Waria LMU Program Coordinator Leonie Waburi said after completing their training, the youths are placed in a “ready pool” while they wait for employment opportunities from overseas employers.
“Most of the youths graduated from their training colleges last year, and Australia started employing them from then,” Ms Waburi said.
She is responsible for liaising with overseas employers, establishing connections and negotiating employment opportunities for Wau Waria youths.
The district’s Youth Employment Program (YEP) Coordinator, Willard Bogan, manages the youths on the ground until their departure from Lae.
Ms Waburi said the program is providing second chances to young people who dropped out of school by giving them skills, employment and an income to support their families back home.
