Skillforce International, a privately owned recruitment company with offices around the world, recently set up in Australia with plans to target the mining industry – with a focus on Queensland and Western Australia.

The company recruits overseas tradespeople, such as fitters and electricians. Recruiting overseas skilled workers, Lawrence said, was one solution that would help address the current industry skills shortage.

“Many projects are being delayed and cancelled as a result of what is proving to be a long-term trend – a shortage of skilled trades people. In many cases, without the use of skilled migrant workers, projects would be cancelled and Australians would be consequently unemployed,” the company said.

Workers are predominantly recruited from China through the company’s Shanghai office – but basically Skillforce International will recruit from anywhere the client requires.

Once selected, migrant workers must undergo in their country of origin an Australian skills assessment, basic occupational health and safety training and workplace English.

After coming to Australia, the workers then undergo federally funded specific company training.

Lawrence said a lot of the tradespeople recruited had previously worked for Western companies and had work experience overseas. “Many of our skilled Chinese tradespeople have overseas work experience in Singapore, Japan and Korea. These countries have good safety records and stringent regulations,” the company said.

Skillforce International also encourages placing recruits together. For groups numbering more than 20, a team leader speaking both English and the language of the workers’ country of origin is supplied to manage the group in the initial settling down stage.