Around 400 Fijian workers have absconded from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme, prompting the Ministry of Employment to warn that such actions could jeopardise overseas job opportunities for thousands of others.
Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations Jone Maritino Nemani says while most Fijian workers continue to perform well under the scheme, those who leave their approved employers without authorisation damage Fiji's reputation and weaken the trust built with Australia and participating employers.
Nemani says although around 400 workers have disengaged from the PALM Scheme, not all cases involved workers absconding, as some had genuine workplace issues.
He says the Ministry has worked closely with Australian authorities and employers to resolve these cases, with more than 200 workers successfully re-engaged after their situations were assessed.
However, he says workers who commit serious offences or breach the programme's rules cannot return to the scheme.
Nemani warns that absconding leads to stricter compliance measures and increased scrutiny by Australian authorities, making it more difficult for future Fijians to secure overseas employment opportunities.
He is urging workers facing workplace issues to contact Fiji's Country Liaison Officers or the relevant Australian authorities instead of abandoning their jobs.
Nemani adds that every disengaged worker is assessed individually by the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, and only those who meet the PALM Scheme's eligibility requirements can be re-engaged.
He says the PALM Scheme has transformed the lives of thousands of Fijian families through employment, skills development and higher incomes, and is calling on all workers to uphold Fiji's reputation by honouring their employment contracts.
