"Labour mobility is absolutely critical to the ...">

Pacific needs migrant workers

World Bank president Bob Zoellick says it is "absolutely critical" that Australia open its gates to migrant workers from its South Pacific neighbours.

"Labour mobility is absolutely critical to the long-term development of the South Pacific," Mr Zoellick told Fairfax newspapers.

"I don't know about Australia's visa and immigration rules but labour mobility will be important for remittances and skills" in neighbour countries.

Mr Zoellick said the move would boost the fledgling economies in neighbouring countries such as Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and East Timor.

Foreign workers brought temporarily to Australia would return to their countries with new skills, while they were also able to send their pay packets home to their families.

They could fill low-skilled jobs including those now utilised by foreign back-packers, including seasonal fruit picking in regional areas.

Mr Zoellick is in Sydney for a meeting with finance ministers for the Asia Pacific Economic Co-Operation forum countries.

Leighton chief executive Wal King has also called for a larger and more targeted working visa scheme, in an address to the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia conference.

He said Australia had a shortage of truck drivers, and he pointed to the UK's migration model which has eased visa restrictions on workers with in-demand skills.

"Things are going to get worse ... the talent pool is shrinking," Mr King says in of The Australian Financial Review.

August 2, 2007 - The Age

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