Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka plans to raise concerns about the controversial Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting with his Australian counterpart. In comments 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 allegations of harsh and unsafe working conditions for Fijian workers, leading to a government investigation. A notable case involved the death of 24-year-old Christine Lewailagi from a brain tumor while employed under the scheme in Australia. Following her passing, her relatives in Australia reported claims of mistreatment, including instances of racism, inadequate healthcare, limited sick leave, and threats of job loss for workers.
Rabuka condemned the scheme as a form of modern-day slavery and indicated that his ministers had been in Australia to investigate the allegations. He stated that this matter should be addressed at the ministerial level and expressed his intention to discuss it with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is expected to attend the forum.
On Saturday, Rabuka was welcomed by the Fijian community in Tonga, where issues surrounding employment in Australia and New Zealand were brought to light. Attendees included 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 poor working conditions for Fijians recruited to work there, a lack of health insurance which forces foreigners to pay substantial maternity fees, and the high costs associated with renewing passports and traveling back to Fiji, which many Fijians find prohibitively expensive.