Government takes ‘backwards step’ on Pacific workers’ rights

The Albanese government’s backflip on its promise to guarantee weekly hours for more than 14,000 Pacific workers has drawn sharp criticism from unions, who warn it leaves workers financially vulnerable and open to exploitation.

The federal government has quietly walked back its earlier commitment to guarantee 30 hours of work per week for short-term employees under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

Supporting more than 14,000 Pacific workers, the PALM scheme allows people from countries like Vanuatu, Fiji, and East Timor to take up roles in Australian industries facing labour shortages, particularly in agriculture and meat processing.

In 2023, the Albanese government committed to a staged rollout of the PALM scheme that would guarantee 30 hours of work per week for its 14,300 short-term workers. Following two delays, the commitment was scheduled to take effect by April 2026.

However, this week, the scheme’s website was quietly updated to confirm a major reversal: instead of the promised weekly minimum, an existing transitional rule – requiring 120 hours of work averaged over four weeks – will now become permanent.

The government’s decision to ditch the 30-hour guarantee has sparked criticism from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), which warned that the absence of guaranteed weekly hours leaves Pacific workers financially insecure and vulnerable to exploitation.

In a statement, the ACTU warned that the decision to scrap guaranteed weekly minimum hours “leaves vulnerable workers subject to exploitation in a scheme that has already seen concerns raised of modern slavery”.

The union body explained that the government’s backflip means workers are now “receiving insufficient work hours to cover their living costs”, while employers can “provide low hours in the first three weeks of a month and top them up in the fourth week and still meet the technical requirements of the scheme”.

ACTU president Michele O’Neil condemned the government’s decision to backflip on their commitment, warning it marks a major setback for workers’ rights in Australia.

“The government’s failure to uphold its commitment to protect vulnerable PALM workers from exploitation by delivering minimum hours is a backwards step for workers’ rights in Australia,” O’Neil said.

“Employers can hold the PALM program to ransom by threatening to use backpackers instead of PALM workers every time changes are made to prevent exploitation. The government must improve protections for both PALM workers and workers in the Working Holiday Maker program, to prevent exploitation and the undermining of PALM by employers.”

O’Neil emphasised the importance of programs like PALM, which provide Pacific workers with opportunities to earn an income and develop new skills in Australia, while urging the government to take stronger action to protect these vulnerable workers from exploitation.

“Australian Unions support PALM as an important program, enabling Pacific workers the opportunity to come to Australia and earn some money and develop new skills – but not at the expense of workers having the same rights as Australian workers,” O’Neil said.

“Workers’ rights should not be discounted for migrant workers. The government must take extra steps to protect these vulnerable workers and ensure they are not exploited on this program.”

O’Neil added: “Unions urge the government to reconsider its position and implement its promised 30 hours per week requirement so PALM workers can be treated fairly and afford the basics they need to survive.”