Dr. Rona Nibeta Nadile (born 1951)[1] worked for the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations (DLIR) of Papua New Guinea (PNG), with a focus on legal frameworks for managing foreign workers.
[3] Nadile grew up in Samarai, Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, before traveling to the provincial capital, Alotau, to attend Cameron Secondary School.
[citation needed] Nadile is a member of the U.S. Embassy's PNG-USA Alumni Association, recognizing Papua New Guineans who have participated in U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.
[8][9] Longstanding tensions between immigrant and overseas workers in PNG motivated the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations (DLIR) to encode laws to clarify the administration of work visas.
[17][18] In May 2009, while speaking about these laws at the 25th Australia-PNG Business Council Forum, Nadile stated that when she tried to turn down the work visa applications due to these issues, the corporation went over her head to the Prime Minister's office, which demanded that she "make it happen ... because the agreement has been signed to develop the Ramu nickel project".
[10][20] The Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, joked on May 26 that he knew foreigners could get work permits for a bribe as small as "a six pack", stating that the Department of Immigration should do a better job.
[21] A press release from the DLIR, entitled "Clarification on media reports as published in The National paper dated 20th May 2009 with the headline 'Permit Fiasco'" David K.G.