A recent report highlights the need for Australia to consider creating a citizenship pathway for long-term Pacific workers who play a crucial role in various industries, including meat processing. Most Australians are aware that seasonal guest workers come from the Pacific region primarily for agricultural jobs, but the scale and scope of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme have grown significantly in recent years.
Currently, around 32,000 PALM workers are engaged in multi-year assignments across all Australian states and territories, working not just in agriculture, but also in sectors such as tourism, healthcare, and early childhood education. Notably, it’s estimated that approximately one in four workers within Australia’s meat processing industry are PALM participants, who come from nine Pacific island nations and East Timor.
In a paper commissioned by the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, researcher Peter Mares emphasized that the growth of the PALM scheme necessitates a reevaluation of how Australia supports these workers. He remarked that while the scheme was never intended to serve as a pathway to permanent residency, the realities of the labor market indicate otherwise. “If there are permanent gaps in the labor market for meat workers or aged care assistance, why aren’t we allowing those PALM workers who come for four years, gain training, and integrate into local communities to settle here permanently?” he questioned.
While long-term placements can provide significant financial benefits for Pacific workers, they also impose emotional costs on families, who may face extended separations of up to four years. The report notes that this separation can lead to issues such as loneliness, relationship strains, and behavioral challenges in children. Conversely, it also highlights that improved financial circumstances resulting from these jobs can alleviate domestic disputes and empower women, allowing them to take on roles traditionally held by men.
The expansion of the PALM scheme has seen over 100 labor hire companies stepping in to facilitate employment for these visiting workers. While this arrangement can simplify the employment process for farmers and abattoir owners, it often creates confusion for the workers themselves, especially since many of them may not have prior experience in formal employment, including payroll systems and tax obligations.
In response to these challenges, Mares has proposed ten recommendations to the government, which include granting guest workers the ability to change employers without restrictions and ensuring they have access to Medicare. Such changes could alleviate some of the burdens faced by these workers and enhance their contributions to the Australian economy and society.
This report serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of supporting the diverse workforce that sustains vital industries in Australia, while advocating for policies that enable long-term workers to build futures in the country alongside their families.