The Australian government’s scheme to bring 2,500 workers from Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu will allow laborers to spend seven months out of 12 working in Australia’s horticultural industry.
For Australian employers, it is a scheme that will help overcome labor shortages. For participating Pacific nations, it provides the opportunity for much needed foreign currency remittances from workers.
The proposal is still a pilot scheme, but Sefita Hao’uli from Tonga’s labor, commerce and industry ministry, has told representatives of the horticultural industry in Australia it has the potential to be permanent.
“If you look at the numbers and if you look at the desire and you look at the demand and you look at what we both need out of this I have no doubt that we’re all going to work toward making this into a viable and long-term pursuit of happiness for you, the grower, as well as it is for us.”
