Fijian workers who abscond from their jobs in Australia and breach the rules may be barred from returning under the PALM scheme as the authorities continue efforts to locate workers who remain unaccounted for.
Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Agni Deo Singh says workers have been warned that those who violate laws or the rules of the scheme may not be allowed to return under the programme.
Singh says this is not only Fiji’s position, as Australian authorities and employers also do not want workers who breach the rules to return under the scheme.
He says the number of Fijian workers who have absconded over the years is a small fraction of the average 5,000 workers who travel under the scheme each year.
Singh says the vast majority of Fijian workers earn good money, return home and use their earnings sensibly.
However, he says some workers who have left their approved jobs have effectively disappeared, and efforts are continuing to locate them.
He adds that Fiji’s country liaison officers are working with Australia’s Department of Workplace Relations and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to locate these workers.
The Minister says the Government is also reaching out to members of the Fijian diaspora in Australia and asking them to help locate workers who have left their approved employment.
He says the aim is not only to find the workers, as some can be re-engaged by companies that are still willing to employ them.
He says some workers can also be transferred to other companies in Australia, provided they still have a valid visa.
The Minister says Fiji now has four country liaison officers based in different parts of Australia to assist Fijian workers.
He is urging workers who are facing problems to contact these officers or approach Australia’s Department of Workplace Relations for assistance instead of simply leaving their jobs.
Insert: Deo on re-engaged abscond workers 4th July 26
He says Fiji’s country liaison officers are working with the National Employment Centre to update the figures and determine how many workers remain unaccounted for.
The Minister says the Government also has a comprehensive pre-departure training programme for workers before they leave Fiji; this includes involving families and people who will care for children while a parent is working overseas.
He says they have also introduced a policy under which both parents are not permitted to leave under the scheme at the same time, to ensure children are not left without parental support.
Families in Fiji are also being advised not to place unrealistic financial demands on workers overseas, so they have a chance to save some of their earnings.
The Minister says workers receive financial literacy training before leaving Fiji and are also supported through a reintegration programme when they return.
He says the programme aims to help returning workers invest their hard-earned money wisely instead of losing or wasting it.
He admits the system is still a work in progress and says there is more work to be done.
