The National Employment Centre (NEC) has announced that the suspension of registration for new applicants to the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) program and the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) work schemes will continue indefinitely. This decision comes as the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations works through a significant backlog of approximately 35,000 applications.

Permanent Secretary of Employment, Maritino Nemani, acknowledged the importance of these labor mobility programs to the Fijian community and stated that while the suspension was expected to be lifted recently, the NEC is still focused on processing existing applications. Since the program’s inception in 2021, about 6,669 workers have participated in the seasonal worker program in Australia, with roughly 5,000 still currently employed there. In New Zealand, there are about 700 Fijian workers, with more expected to depart soon.

This suspension, which began in December of last year and was initially planned to end in July, reflects the Ministry’s commitment to managing current applicants effectively and ensuring the integrity of the labor mobility schemes. Nemani expressed a hopeful outlook, asserting that the Ministry aims to resume new registrations as soon as the backlog is alleviated.

Despite these ongoing challenges, the government remains dedicated to support both current and potential applicants in the future. There is optimism surrounding the eventual resumption of the programs, which are viewed as vital avenues for providing economic opportunities to many Fijians and their families. Thus, while the moratorium presents hurdles, it underscores a responsible approach to managing labor mobility and the need for future enhancements in the registration process.

Overall, the Ministry’s focus on resolving the backlog signifies a commitment to fair treatment for all applicants and anticipates a more streamlined and efficient system moving forward. There is a strong belief that resolving these issues will ultimately benefit the Fijian workforce and their families in the long run.