To safeguard children in the realm of labor mobility, it is essential for Government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and various stakeholders to collaborate effectively. This viewpoint was expressed by Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh during a parliamentary session where he addressed the implications of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) program on the children of workers and the ministry’s response to these issues.
Mr. Singh underscored the necessity of protecting children’s rights within the context of labor mobility and called for collective efforts to tackle risks linked to family separations. He proposed multiple strategies aimed at ensuring children’s welfare, including the formation of a working group tasked with monitoring the challenges faced by children of migrant workers.
Additional strategies involve revising client registration forms to collect data on children cared for by parents or guardians who are away, enhancing data collection methods, and assessing the recruitment and selection procedures to deter both parents from participating in the scheme simultaneously.
“Comprehensive strategies are essential to uphold our children’s rights and mitigate risks stemming from family separations due to labor mobility,” he stated. He emphasized that the implemented strategies would help the government shield children from any harm during prolonged absences while ensuring they remain safe, supported, and connected to their families.
Mr. Singh further noted that the government is committed to protecting the children of labor mobility workers and enhancing workplace protections for migrant workers through improved data collection and financial literacy initiatives.