Former participants in Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme have claimed that the high number of ni-Vanuatu workers absconding is linked not only to workers’ interests but also alleged mistreatment and shortcomings within the labour mobility system.

One former PALM worker, who requested anonymity, told VBTC News that some employers and labour agents failed to meet their responsibilities, leaving workers in difficult situations.

The former worker, who left the PALM Scheme in 2022 and has lived in Australia with her family for the past four years, said she and five other ni-Vanuatu workers were employed by a farmer who withheld much of their earnings during their first three months of work.

“After the deductions finished, we expected to receive our full wages, but we were still only receiving around AU$200 or AU$300. Sometimes it was AU$500, and it never reached AU$800.”

She also alleged that after raising concerns with their labour agent, some workers were sent back to the same employer despite previous complaints.

“We raised our concerns with the agent, but the agent told us to return to Vanuatu, even though the agent was aware of the issues involving that farmer. Most of the workers who returned, were sent back to the same farmer and have experienced same treatment. Now they have left the program and found other farms to work at.”

Another former worker said the wages remaining after deductions were not enough to meet their living expenses.

“When we signed the contract, we were told deductions would only be for eight weeks. The payslip shows around AU$1,000, but after all the deductions, the amount we actually received was much lower. Once converted into Vanuatu currency, it was even less and we could not send enough for our families back home.”

Labour Commissioner, James Willie, acknowledged that the concerns raised by former workers are valid and are not new to the Department of Labour.

He said many of the issues being raised are already being discussed as part of the review of the bilateral labour agreement governing the PALM Scheme, saying two major concerns is the hourly and salary deductions and visas.  

“First is the number of guaranteed working hours. We are proposing increasing this to between 45 and 48 hours per week. We have already submitted this proposal to the Department of External Trade as part of the negotiations on the bilateral agreement.”

Mr. Willie said strengthening visa arrangements as priority to ensure employers provide appropriate transitional visas for workers when required.

He said the review of the bilateral agreement presents an important opportunity to strengthen protections for ni-Vanuatu workers and ensure employers and programme partners fully meet their obligations.