MORE than 10,500 Fijians work in Australia and over 4600 in New Zealand under Fiji’s labour mobility programs, says Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh.
He told Parliament this week the schemes, under bilateral agreements with Australia and New Zealand, were being managed to prioritise unskilled workers and improve on-ground welfare support.
“In the last two and a half years, we made sure that we only allow unskilled workers to join the workforce that is going abroad under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme,” Mr Singh said.
“With our Labour Mobility Programmes under our bilateral arrangements with both Australia and New Zealand, recording 10,500 workers in Australia, and over 4600 in New Zealand since its inception till May 2025, labour mobility is a significant contributor to Fiji’s high remittances.”
He said a key aspect of the Government’s labour mobility reforms has been the introduction of Country Liaison Officers (CLOs) to provide pastoral care and represent Fiji’s interests abroad.
“When we came into Government, there wasn’t a single CLO in place despite Australia offering to fund one back in 2021. We failed to advertise and fill it.
“Our CLOs play a very important role in relation to the welfare of our workers, through pastoral care, and also promoting Fiji in both Australia and New Zealand.
“Allow me to acknowledge the continued support from the Australian Government in funding an additional country liaison officer which will bring the number of CLOs to four in Australia where the Fiji Government is funding two and the Australian Government is funding two.”
Mr Singh thanked Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad for supporting the ministry’s request to strengthen its service delivery, highlighting that when the Government came into office, 42 staff positions in the ministry were vacant.
“These positions have now been filled through budgetary support over the last two years, ensuring we have a full complement of staff to deliver on our responsibilities.”
