Recent research reveals a troubling trend as skilled health workers from Pacific Island countries are increasingly being recruited to address Australia’s shortage of care workers, putting immense pressure on local health systems that are already struggling. A report published by the Centre for Future Work at The Australia Institute and Public Services International highlights that many Pacific workers who migrate to Australia face de-skilling, inadequate pay, and exploitation.
The inclusion of care workers in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which was originally designed for seasonal agricultural laborers, has exacerbated the situation. This shift has led many skilled professionals, including nurses, to leave their posts for lower-skilled yet better-paying opportunities in Australia. The research outlines the alarming decline of health services in countries like Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, with some facilities operating at as little as 30–40 percent capacity.
The plight of Pacific workers in Australia is compounded by their precarious visa status, rendering them vulnerable to mistreatment. Vanuatu, home to a population of about 327,000 spread across 83 islands, faces its own unique challenges. Much of its population resides in remote areas, making access to healthcare complicated. Additionally, the country has not fully implemented key health policies, leading to rising rates of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, particularly in rural locales where healthcare access is severely limited.
Around 13 percent of Vanuatu’s GDP in 2023 was derived from remittances, reflecting the significant contribution of its diaspora, with over 16,000 Vanuatu nationals working overseas. However, this migration often stems from local labor shortages, prompting the Vanuatu government to introduce measures like the Emergency Employment Visa to recruit 1,500 foreign workers in 2023 and the National Labour Mobility Policy in 2024, aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of labor migration.
Concerns raised by the Vanuatu Trade Unions Combined reflect issues within the health sector—including poor working conditions, lack of employee rights, and systemic nepotism. Many nurses are compelled to leave their positions due to unsuitable job requirements and heavy workloads, with public sector bureaucracies delaying necessary contracts and entitlements. The exodus of experienced staff leaves health services relying heavily on less experienced workers, further compromising patient care.
Moreover, exploitation within labor migration schemes has come to the forefront, with reports detailing inadequate living conditions, overcrowded quarters, unsafe water, and instances of harassment. Although measures have been proposed to blacklist abusive employers and develop reintegration programs, unions have reported a lack of visible successes in these initiatives.
Ultimately, the report underscores the adverse impact of Australia’s dependence on Pacific workers to address its care workforce shortages. The resulting outflow of skilled health workers is inflicting lasting damage on the health systems of countries like Vanuatu, which is among the most affected in the region. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts to ensure the health and well-being of these nations while also safeguarding the rights of their workers abroad.