The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Agni Deo Singh, has acknowledged the recent case posted on Facebook concerning a former Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) worker who passed away in June 2024. Singh confirmed that the Ministry is fully aware of the situation involving Christine Lewailagi, who left Fiji in May 2022 to work for Midfield Meat Group in Victoria under the PALM scheme.
According to Minister Singh, the Ministry received notification of the incident from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) on June 17, 2024. The report indicated that Ms. Lewailagi had been suffering from headaches the week prior and had been taken to a hospital for evaluation. She was later transferred to Austin Hospital in Melbourne for further assessment, where she underwent two surgeries for a brain tumor. Sadly, the report noted that she was on life support and her chances of recovery were minimal. Ms. Lewailagi passed away on June 19, 2024, and her body was repatriated to Fiji for burial on July 6.
Minister Singh emphasized that the Ministry is taking the employment conditions and issues raised on social media very seriously. A Country Liaison Officer based in Victoria is addressing these concerns to ensure the welfare of Fijian workers engaged under the scheme is prioritized and that they are treated respectfully.
The Minister also announced plans for the Employment Ministry to visit PALM workers in October to engage with Australian employers and counterparts, focusing on issues such as racism, bullying, workload exploitation, threats, unsafe practices, unfair termination, and forced labor.
Furthermore, Singh stated that the Ministry aims to enhance its collaboration with Australian authorities and employers to establish better oversight mechanisms and guarantee compliance with fair labor practices. This will include routine workplace inspections and a zero-tolerance approach toward any form of exploitation or mistreatment.
During a recent Labour Mobility Stakeholder Engagement Workshop held in Suva, the Australian Workers Union (AWU) expressed their commitment to ensuring that approved employers adhere to minimum standards.