Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka plans to address the controversial Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) during the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, where he aims to discuss the issue with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
In a recent conversation in Tonga, Mr. Rabuka emphasized the need to reevaluate both the PALM scheme and New Zealand’s Seasonal Workers Scheme. The PALM initiative has faced significant criticism due to reports of brutal and unsafe working conditions affecting Fijian workers, which has led the Fijian government to launch an investigation.
The situation drew further attention after the death of 24-year-old Christine Lewailagi, who succumbed to a brain tumor while working in Australia under the PALM program. Her family reported serious allegations of mistreatment, racism, inadequate healthcare, and job security threats, leading Mr. Rabuka to describe the scheme as a form of modern slavery.
Mr. Rabuka noted that Minister Agni Deo Singh and Permanent Secretary Nemani Maritino have recently been in Australia to investigate these allegations. He expressed the importance of addressing the issue at the ministerial level and highlighted his intention to raise it with Prime Minister Albanese during the forum.
Mr. Rabuka was recently welcomed by the Fijian community in Tonga, where various employment-related issues, particularly concerning the challenges faced in Australia and New Zealand, were discussed. Among those present were Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Sakiasi Ditoka, Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Filipo Tarakinikini, and High Commissioner to New Zealand Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
The community raised multiple concerns, including poor working conditions for Fijians lured to work in Tonga, a lack of health coverage that forces foreigners to pay substantial maternity fees, and difficulties regarding passport renewals for Fijians struggling with high airfare costs to return home. Fijians in Tonga reported one-way airfare on Fiji Airways costing around 1200 pa’anga (FJ$1,123.16), a price they hope will be reduced.