Commencement of Australia’s Pacific Labour Scheme

We welcome the start of the Pacific Labour Scheme, an exciting new chapter in the partnership between Australia and Pacific island countries.

From today, up to 2,000 workers from Nauru, Kiribati and Tuvalu can earn an income and develop skills by accessing low and semi-skilled temporary work opportunities in Australia.

Employers will be required to offer positions to Australian workers first and labour market testing will assure the safety of local jobs. We will ensure the scheme focuses on industries with projected job growth and those that match Pacific island skill sets, such as hospitality, tourism and aged-care.

A new Pacific Labour Facility will support workers by providing them with pre-departure briefings on their rights, access to pastoral care and a 24/7 hotline. We have also established strong measures to guard against unfair and unlawful treatment. The Australia-Pacific Technical College will provide many of the workers with Australian-standard vocational qualifications.

The scheme will complement our existing Seasonal Worker Programme, which has brought more than 25,000 workers from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste since 2012.

Labour mobility is a win-win for Australia and for Pacific island countries. It will promote economic development and deepen friendships between our countries to help build a brighter future. It is an important plank of Australia's stepped-up engagement with the Pacific and is a symbol of our enduring commitment to the region.