'Zero Tolerance for Worker Mistreatment'

The Australian Government has zero tolerance for worker mistreatment and exploitation.

We take all allegations seriously and investigate promptly.

This was the statement from the Australian High Commission in response to the allegations made in an article by Australia's SBS News that Pacific workers were facing "appalling housing, fear deportation if they seek medical care".

The article claimed that an inquiry into modern slavery had been told that workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme were particularly vulnerable due to their strict visa conditions, which stopped them from changing employers.

"The wellbeing of Pacific workers in Australia is of the highest priority to the Australian Government," the statement from the Australian High Commission said.

"We have worked to strengthen protections for workers under the scheme to ensure they are well treated.

"The overwhelming majority of PALM scheme employers engage with the scheme responsibly: This is backed by an Australian National University /World Bank survey of more than 2000 Pacific workers, which found 92 per cent of workers wanted to engage in labour mobility again, while 98 per cent would recommend these opportunities to others."

The PALM scheme allows eligible Australian businesses to hire people from Pacific Island countries usually to work in agriculture and meat processing.

In the SBS News article, Australia's Immigration Advice and Rights Centre chief executive Joshua Strutt said, "PALM visa holders are one of the most exploited temporary visa holders in Australia."

The article claimed that migrant workers who had lost limbs or been blinded in Australian workplaces feared they would be deported if they sought medical treatment. Fiji's Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations said in a statement it would investigate the issues raised in the article and respond accordingly: The ministry recently said the Coalition Government had been prioritising safeguards to the rights and welfare of Fijian workers engaged under the scheme.

The Employment Minister, Agni Deo Singh, said the ministry had put various strategies in place following two ministerial visits since 2023, to ensure fair treatment and protection for Fijian workers under the PALM scheme.

"Both governments are collaborating with trade union organisations, such as the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU), to address any issues related to the terms and conditions of Fijian PALM workers," Mr Singh said.

Feedback: jonathan.bryce@fijisun.com.fj