The National Employment Centre (NEC) in Fiji 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 suspension is necessary as the NEC works through a significant backlog of around 35,000 pending applications.

Permanent Secretary of Employment, Maritino Nemani, stated that expectations to lift the suspension have been unmet due to the ongoing influx of applications, which began piling up after the suspension was first implemented in December 2023. Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh previously reported to Parliament that since the inception of the seasonal worker program in Australia in 2021, around 6,669 Fijian workers have participated, with approximately 5,000 still employed there, while about 700 Fijian workers are currently in New Zealand.

Nemani reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to efficiently processing existing applications and emphasized the vital importance of these labor mobility programs for the Fijian community. He expressed hope that as the backlog is addressed, the NEC will be able to resume new registrations swiftly.

While the suspension presents challenges for prospective applicants, there is optimism about future enhancements in the registration process. The NEC’s focus on resolving this backlog highlights a responsible approach to ensure fair treatment of all applicants. Efforts are geared towards improving the labor mobility framework, ultimately benefiting both current and future Fijian workers and their families.

In summary, though the ongoing suspension poses immediate hurdles, it reflects a proactive strategy by the Ministry to manage existing applicants effectively. This focus aims to create a more streamlined and efficient registration process, fostering greater opportunities for Fijian workers abroad in the long run.