Many pregnant workers within the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme are opting to return to their home countries to give birth, despite being eligible for health coverage in Australia, according to recent research conducted by Lindy Kanan. This phenomenon underscores significant gaps in understanding workplace rights and the support available to PALM participants during pregnancy.
Kanan highlighted the multitude of uncertainties faced by these women, including concerns about health insurance coverage, income stability, visa status, and the fear of losing their jobs. The pressure to keep working in Australia often leads to distressing situations, such as employers suggesting that women could only continue their jobs if they returned without their babies.
One alarming trend noted in Kanan’s blog is the practice of testing women for pregnancy before they depart for Australia. If they are found to be pregnant, they are barred from joining the scheme, which further complicates their circumstances. Even those completing the required 12-month insurance waiting period face pressure to leave the country to give birth, risking separation from their child.
These findings resonate with previous studies emphasizing the inadequate access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for PALM participants, particularly in relation to sexual and gender-based violence. Factors such as cultural stigma regarding SRHR, limited information, concerns about costs, and language barriers have all been cited as barriers to accessing necessary health services.
The Australian government has been encouraged to take several actions in response to these challenges, including better education about SRHR before participants leave for Australia, culturally appropriate health programming during their stay, and stronger support mechanisms from employers to help workers navigate their rights and options.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke has reiterated the government’s commitment to the wellbeing of PALM participants, emphasizing the importance of addressing sexual and reproductive health rights as a critical component of overall wellbeing. The ongoing dialogue in initiatives like the Pacific Migration Workshop aims to foster improvements in the conditions and support available for these vulnerable workers.
There is hope that as awareness grows and supportive measures are implemented, pregnant women in the PALM scheme will gain more security and access to the health services they need, allowing them to navigate their circumstances more effectively without fear of job loss or separation from their children.
Leave a comment