Family breakdowns, exploitation, social isolation, and insufficient care for families have been recognized as significant social consequences of the Pacific labour mobility scheme. A recent study by UNICEF has revealed the effects on children who are left behind in countries such as Fiji, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu as a result of this scheme.
The report sheds light on the realities faced by labor mobility workers, their caregivers, and civil society, emphasizing the social ramifications for children whose parents migrate to New Zealand and Australia for work opportunities. The document notes that the large number of workers relocating to these countries has resulted in many children remaining in their home nations.
The study identifies several issues linked to labor mobility, particularly highlighting family disintegration, exploitation, social seclusion, and neglect towards families in their home countries.
Fiji, being the primary supplier of workers for the PALM scheme, is noted for both long-term contracts (initiated in 2015) and short-term agreements in Australia (which started in April 2022). As of June 2024, there are 6,379 Fijian workers participating in the PALM scheme in Australia, with no limit on the number of workers from Fiji.
From January to May of this year, 1,276 Fijians emigrated for the PALM scheme and the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) program in Australia. In total, 3,274 Fijians left the country in 2023.