The international human resource management literature generally focuses on human resource development for expatriate employees. This article investigates on-the-job skills transfer from international to national employees, using survey evidence from employees who are engaged in remote area mining and hydrocarbon projects in Papua New Guinea and whose employment involves long-distance commuting.
The choice of long-distance international commuting in employment arises from complex economic, cultural, and human resource management considerations. The survey evidence shows these employment practices to be consistent with on-the-job skills transfer from international to national employees- and thus to be consistent with the promotion of national human resource development.
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