MPs raise concerns over Fiji’s export of skilled labour

A parliamentary committee has raised concerns about Fiji losing skilled workers to overseas countries through labour mobility schemes, questioning whether such programmes remain practical for the nation.

Opposition Member of Parliament Virendra Lal told the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence yesterday that Fiji was losing valuable skilled labour to countries like Australia.

"We are losing a lot of skilled labourers to overseas countries, right? Having said that, how practical is it to still have this PALM scheme, or people going overseas?" Mr Lal asked during a submission on the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport's annual reports.

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme currently has nearly 5,500 Fijian workers employed in Australia, with Government planning to send more workers under the programme.

Director Trade Deepika Singh acknowledged the concern but said she was not the appropriate person to address PALM scheme specifics as it falls under the Ministry of Employment's jurisdiction.

However, Ms Singh said regional trade discussions were exploring ways to ensure Fiji benefits from exporting skills.

"Whilst we are exporting the skills, how do we also ensure that there are ways in which Fiji also benefits from it, from either through retention of those skills, or other mechanisms," Ms Singh said.

She said discussions on domestic policies for participating in such programmes while retaining skills were still developing at the regional level.

The Government has said the PALM scheme primarily targets unskilled workers from rural areas, with Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh stating last week that most participants are subsistence farmers seeking to improve their living standards.

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