Recent reports in the PNG press on the number of expatriate tuna workers employed by RD Tuna Canners in Madang, PNG seem to be incorrect.
News sources in Papua New Guinea were based on the allegations of local Parliament member, who failed to verify the data. The information received by the Parliament member came from a dismissed employee of the RD tuna plant.
In a reaction on the news in the local PNG press, the management of RD Tuna Canners fully dismissed the accusations of taking jobs from local PNG workers, by employing more Philippine workers. Mr. Pete Celso the managing director of the tuna plant said: "Do you really think that RD employs 600 expats? Do you also think that we will allow this to happen knowing fully well that it is much more expensive to maintain an expat as against employing a qualified PNG National�
He explained that the company wants to invest in the local economy and provide more job opportunities to the local populations.
Mr. Celso also said that his company currently employs 52 expats in its tuna canning operations and 36 expats in its RD PNG Fishing Company, which mostly operates in PNG waters. The reason for the employment of these expats, is because the know-how and experience they bring is currently not yet available in the country. Presently most of the expats have the Philippine nationality.