No limit for Pacific labourers to Australia [1]
Monday, June 22, 2015 - 21:55
The Australian Government has removed a cap on its Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) meaning there will be no longer be a limit to the number of workers from participating Pacific Islands countries.
The Office of the Chief Trade Advisor (OCTA) on 19 June said the Australian Government announced the changes in a Commonwealth White Paper on plans to develop northern Australia.
The Seasonal Worker Program helps Australian businesses to employ workers from participating Pacific Islands countries (PICs) when they cannot find enough local labour to satisfy seasonal demand.
The Australian Government will expand the SWP to better address seasonal labour shortages in the north.
The White Paper had also recommended that subject to the conclusion of the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER Plus) regional trade agreement, the Australian Government will invite additional PICs to join the program potentially the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Palau and Marshall Islands to the program.
The paper also proposed the expansion of the seasonal worker program to cover the broader agriculture industry and the accommodation sector on an ongoing basis and invited the northern Australia tourism industry to suggest proposals to trial the SWP in tourism sectors other than accommodation.
“In recognition of the challenges faced by microstates, the White Paper proposes the establishment of a special multi-year visa to 250 citizens from Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu to work in lower skills occupations in selected industries in northern Australia.”
The office also added that regional labour mobility is one of the key issues in the PACER Plus negotiations and the Chief Trade Advisor for PICs, Dr Edwini Kessie, said he is buoyed by the unveiling of the White Papers which responds positively to the key negotiating demands of the Pacific Islands countries.
“The announcement by the Australian Government is significant as it underscores the importance of increased labour mobility in the Pacific. The greater access to the Australian labour market by workers from the Pacific islands countries will lead to increased remittances and the upgrading of skills of the workers who upon their return can establish businesses which will generate jobs and contribute to the long term economic growth and sustainable development of their countries.”
The parties intend to conclude PACER Plus negotiations by September 2016.
PACER Plus negotiations was launched by Pacific leaders in August 2009 in Cairns and will result in a trade and development agreement that will inject dynamism into the economies of PICs and enable them to derive significant benefits from international trade. The negotiations cover a broad range of issues including regional labour mobility, development and economic cooperation, trade in goods and services and investment.