Australia should consider a citizenship pathway for long-term Pacific workers propping up industries including the meat processing sector, a report suggests.
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Most Australians understand guest workers from our region come to Australia to pick fruit and do other agricultural jobs.
Fewer realise the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme has expanded in size and grown in scope in recent years.
A majority of the roughly 32,000 PALM workers in Australia at any one time are on multi-year assignments in every state and territory, in fields as broad as agriculture, meat processing, tourism, healthcare and early childhood education.
It is estimated that one in every four workers in Australia’s meat processing sector is a PALM worker, hailing from one of nine Pacific island nations or East Timor.
In a paper commissioned by the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, researcher Peter Mares said the scheme’s expansion meant Australia needed to consider new ways of supporting workers.
“The PALM scheme has shifted profoundly from its original intention,” Mr Mares said.
“The scheme is not intended to be a pathway to permanent residents. That’s problematic.
“If these are permanent gaps in the labour market ... for meat workers, let’s say, or aged care assistance, then why aren’t we allowing those PALM workers who come for four years, get trained, get skills, build links in the local community, why aren’t we allowing them to settle here and become permanent residents and bring their families to join them, if that’s what they choose to do?”
The long-term PALM assignments offer Pacific workers the most financial gain, but come at a cost to families, who are separated for up to four years at a time.
Qualitative research highlighted in the report showed problems including “loneliness, infidelity, strained relationships and behavioural challenges in children” arise due to PALM placements.
Other pieces of research showed improved financial circumstances can reduce arguments at home, and empower women and shift gender norms, when women “stay at home and perform roles usually reserved for men”.
PALM’s growth has also led to more than 100 labour hire companies acting in the role of employer for visiting workers.
This might assist a farmer or abattoir owner looking to employ a Pacific worker by taking care of the paperwork, but it can be challenging for visitors.
“For many of these workers ... they may never have worked in a formal employment relationship. The whole idea of a payslip, let alone tax, superannuation, is all new,” Mr Mares said.
“Having two employers effectively — your direct employer where you're working, and then the labour hire agency — can be confusing.”
Mr Mares makes 10 recommendations to government, including the right for guest workers to be able to change employers to “remove the whiff of indenture”, and to access Medicare.
The PALM scheme has been successful for many orchardists.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
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