Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka plans to address his Australian counterpart regarding the contentious Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) during the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting.
In a statement made in Tonga, Rabuka expressed the need to reassess the PALM scheme as well as the Seasonal Workers Scheme with New Zealand, following allegations of severe and unsafe working conditions that have recently surfaced. These concerns have prompted the Fijian government to launch an investigation into the allegations.
The issue gained significant attention after the tragic death of 24-year-old Christine Lewailagi, who passed away from a brain tumor while participating in the PALM scheme in Australia. Her family has come forward with claims of mistreatment, racism, inadequate healthcare, restrictions on sick leave, and threats regarding job security faced by workers under the scheme. Rabuka referred to the scheme as a form of “modern-day slavery.”
He mentioned that the Minister for Employment, Agni Deo Singh, and his Permanent Secretary, Nemani Maritino, have recently traveled to Australia to investigate these allegations. Rabuka emphasized that this matter should be addressed at the ministerial level and indicated his intention to raise it with Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who is expected to attend the Forum meeting.
During a gathering with the Fijian community in Tonga, Rabuka was made aware of several employment-related concerns faced by Fijians in Australia and New Zealand. Issues raised by the community included poor working conditions and violations of employment contracts for Fijians working in Tonga, the absence of a health scheme that forces foreigners to pay substantial maternity fees, and the high costs associated with renewing passports and traveling back to Fiji, which many Fijians have requested be reduced.