PALM scheme heads of mission to meet in Canberra

The Albanese Government will host the latest in a series of roundtable discussions with representatives of partnering countries in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme in Canberra next week. The ongoing engagement between our countries strengthens our relationships and ensures the continuing success of the PALM scheme.

More than 30,000 short-term and long-term workers from 9 Pacific islands and Timor-Leste are currently enrolled in the Scheme across sectors including agriculture, meat processing and other critical industries. The Scheme helps to fill labour gaps in rural and regional Australia, while helping workers to develop their skills and send income home.

The PALM scheme is highly valued by Australian employers and industry, participating countries, and by those who come to Australia to work. It continues to deliver significant economic and social benefits for all countries involved.

The meeting with Heads of Mission on Monday, follows the Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) held in Brisbane last month, and a visiting delegation led by Fiji’s Minister for Employment Productivity and Workplace Relations the Hon Agni Deo Singh, in October.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt said the regular engagement between countries was a good opportunity to check in, and ensure that recent reforms are being applied as intended.

“I’m very pleased to host the PALM Heads of Mission next week, which builds on a strong partnership between Australia, the Pacific and Timor-Leste,” Minister Watt said.

“Since being elected, the Albanese Government has invested $440 million to expand and improve PALM, including to better protect and support workers while in Australia, such as strengthening scheme settings including pay, accommodation, worker welfare and wellbeing, and safeguarding against worker exploitation.

“We continue to monitor these reforms as they roll out, and check in with our partner countries to get their feedback on how they’re working.

“We also continue to work closely and collaboratively with our Pacific neighbours to ensure strong action is taken in relation to any reported allegations of worker mistreatment by non-compliant employers, because no worker should feel unsafe or be subject to exploitation. The Albanese Government has zero tolerance for worker mistreatment in the PALM scheme and would encourage anyone with information about any wrong-doing to report it through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations or the PALM hotline on 1800 51 51 31.”

In July 2024, the Albanese Government implemented a new minimum hours requirement for employers to pay PALM workers for the equivalent of 120 hours of work over four weeks. This ensures workers can afford to cover their accommodation and other expenses while offering strong flexibility for employers. Recent checks have shown that employers are complying with these changes. A sample of nearly a third of PALM scheme agriculture and horticulture employers with short-term workers were assessed and found to be complying fully.