Fiji will soon appoint a fourth country liaison officer (CLO) to Australia to strengthen oversight of Fijian workers employed under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh told Parliament that when the Coalition Government took office “there was not a single country liaison officer representing Fiji in Australia or New Zealand”.
He said the first post in Australia, approved in 2021 and funded by Canberra, was not filled by the previous administration.
“If we had filled that position at that point in time, we could have filled the other positions much earlier as well,” he said.
Since then, three CLOs have been appointed across Australia to support Fijians spread across 496 worksites.
Mr Singh said the Government had pressed Canberra to fund an additional officer to balance responsibilities.
“The Australian government finally approved one more. The appointment is ready to be made once the green light is given to us on the final listing.”
CLOs are tasked with monitoring worker welfare, ensuring employer compliance with contracts, mediating disputes, and safeguarding Fiji’s reputation abroad. They also assist with reintegration when workers return home.
Mr Singh said the expanded presence would give Fijians confidence that their welfare was being monitored on the ground.
“These roles are vital because they provide our workers with a sense of security, knowing that their government is present and responsive to their needs while they are far from home.”
The minister said the appointments demonstrated the Coalition Government’s “deliberate and sustained effort” to protect Fijian workers engaged in overseas labour mobility.
