Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka plans to address the Australian Prime Minister regarding the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (PALM) at the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting. Mr. Rabuka emphasized the need to reassess PALM and the Seasonal Workers Scheme with New Zealand during an interview in Tonga.
The PALM scheme faces significant criticism due to allegations of unsafe working conditions for Fijian workers, leading the government to investigate these claims. The matter gained further attention after the death of Christine Lewailagi, 24, who passed away from a brain tumor while participating in the scheme in Australia. Her family reported instances of poor treatment, racism, healthcare limitations, job security threats, and a lack of sick leave.
Mr. Rabuka expressed concern over the scheme, describing it as a modern form of slavery. He mentioned that the Minister of Employment and his Permanent Secretary had recently visited Australia to investigate the allegations, stating that this issue should be discussed at the ministerial level. He intends to raise it directly with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is expected to attend the leaders’ meeting.
Mr. Rabuka met with the Fijian community in Tonga, where discussions centered on employment challenges in both Australia and New Zealand. Present at the gathering were the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and several diplomatic representatives.
Concerns voiced by the Fijian community included reports of deceptive recruitment practices leading to poor working conditions in Tonga, high maternity fees for foreign workers, and the costly renewal process for passports, which has made travel to Fiji financially burdensome due to expensive airfare.