The impact of the PALM scheme is leading to significant changes in family care dynamics due to the absence of parents at home. Talei Cama, a child protection specialist from UNICEF, has highlighted that many workers participating in the scheme are away from their families for extended periods. This often results in shifts in familial responsibilities, potentially leading to generational trauma.
Cama emphasized the increased pressure on mothers who are handling the household alone after their partners leave to work abroad under the PALM scheme. “There’s a huge shift in gender roles,” she stated, noting that mothers not only fulfill their traditional caregiving roles but also take on additional tasks such as managing the household, tending to farms, and performing duties usually handled by their spouses.
Moreover, older siblings are stepping up to care for younger children in the absence of their fathers, which forces them into premature adult responsibilities. “These older children often find themselves playing a more adult role than would typically be expected,” she explained.
Additionally, grandparents are also feeling the strain, as they often have to take over caregiving duties. Cama pointed out that the overall effects of the PALM scheme illustrate a complicated interplay of heightened responsibilities and the emotional strain on families dealing with these transitions.