Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is set to address concerns regarding the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) during the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting, where he plans to discuss the matter with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
In a statement made in Tonga, Rabuka emphasized the need to reassess both the PALM scheme and the Seasonal Workers Scheme with New Zealand. The PALM initiative has faced significant criticism due to serious allegations of unsafe working conditions affecting Fijians, leading to a government investigation.
The scrutiny intensified following the tragic death of 24-year-old Christine Lewailagi, who passed away from a brain tumor while participating in the PALM scheme in June. After her death, allegations surfaced from her relatives regarding unsatisfactory treatment, instances of racism, inadequate healthcare, restrictive sick leave policies, and intimidation regarding job loss.
Rabuka described the scheme as akin to modern slavery. He noted that the Minister for Employment and his Permanent Secretary had recently traveled to Australia to investigate the allegations. He stated, “It is an issue that should be dealt with at the ministerial level. If the Prime Minister is here, I will raise it with him.”
Prime Minister Albanese is expected to attend the Forum meeting. During his visit to Tonga, Rabuka engaged with the Fijian community, discussing various employment issues linked to experiences in Australia and New Zealand.
Concerns raised by the Fijian community in Tonga include reports of exploitation of Fijians recruited to work there, lack of health coverage, high costs associated with maternity fees, and difficulties in renewing passports due to exorbitant airfares. Fijians noted that one-way tickets on Fiji Airways cost approximately 1200 pa’anga (about FJ$1,123.16), a cost they are urging to be lowered.