Two men from Navutulevu Village in Serua are among 205 workers who recently received their certificates after completing pre-departure briefings for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme. Viliame Maraivalu, who is returning to Australia for the fourth time since 2022, is set to work in Umbiram, Queensland, while fellow villager Kafoa George prepares for his second stint in the program.
Maraivalu shared the significant wage difference between his work in Fiji, where he earns $5 an hour, and the $30 an hour he has made in Australia. “I’m going to learn more things from there. Like fruit picking, pruning, planting,” he expressed, noting the challenging emotional experience of leaving his family behind, especially since his eldest son serves in the British Army.
George, who first joined the scheme in December 2023 and returned to Fiji in August, has also remarked on the benefits of sending money back to his family. He often communicates with his one-year-old son and wife after work. His previous experience in Australia, which included learning how to operate a tractor, has been invaluable.
This initiative is part of a broader effort under the PALM scheme, which emphasizes the importance of skill acquisition and financial support for Fijian families. The scheme not only aims to enhance workers’ livelihoods but also encourages them to send essential funds back home to support their loved ones, a sentiment echoed by the Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh during prior announcements.
In recent developments, the launch of the Family Accompaniment Pilot has opened opportunities for families of workers to join them in Australia, highlighting the commitment to fostering family unity and improving the overall well-being of migrant families. This pilot program addresses the social impact of labor mobility and seeks to enhance the quality of life for those involved.
Overall, the PALM Scheme signifies a hopeful pathway for economic improvement, offering Fijians not just job opportunities abroad but also a chance for family support through financial stability and shared experiences in a new environment.
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