Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka plans to discuss the contentious Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) with his Australian counterpart during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting. In a statement made in Tonga, Mr. Rabuka emphasized the need to reassess both the PALM scheme and the Seasonal Workers Scheme with New Zealand.
The PALM scheme has faced significant criticism due to serious allegations regarding poor and unsafe working conditions for Fijian workers, which has led to a government investigation. The recent death of 24-year-old Christine Lewailagi in June, who succumbed to a brain tumor while employed under the PALM scheme in Australia, has highlighted these issues. Following her passing, her family made allegations about the mistreatment of workers, including claims of racism, lack of adequate healthcare, and intimidation regarding job security.
Mr. Rabuka described the scheme as a form of modern slavery and noted that Fiji’s Minister for Employment, Agni Deo Singh, along with the Permanent Secretary, Nemani Maritino, were in Australia to investigate these allegations. He stated that this matter needs to be addressed at a ministerial level and that he intends to raise it with the Australian Prime Minister.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is anticipated to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting tomorrow. Mr. Rabuka was recently engaged by the Fijian community in Tonga, where issues regarding employment in Australia and New Zealand were also highlighted. He was joined by Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Sakiasi Ditoka, Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Filipo Tarakinikini, and Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.
Concerns raised by the Fijian community in Tonga included the exploitation of Fijians lured for work in Tonga who experience poor working conditions and breaches of their employment contracts. Additionally, issues such as a lack of health insurance, with foreigners having to pay substantial maternity fees, and difficulties faced by Fijians in renewing passports due to prohibitively high airfare to Fiji were also mentioned. Fijians in Tonga reported a one-way ticket cost of 1200 pa’anga (approximately FJ$1,123.16) with requests for fare reductions.