Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reaffirmed that Ni-Vanuatu workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme are entitled to the same legal rights and protections as Australian workers, declaring, “They should be treated as such.”
Her remarks come in response to a viral video circulating on social media in which an Australian man described Ni-Vanuatu workers as being treated like “slaves” due to poor accommodation conditions and exorbitant rental fees being deducted from their wages. The video has sparked widespread concern and reignited debate around the treatment of Pacific workers in Australia.
Speaking in Port Vila yesterday during her visit, Senator Wong said the Australian Government is committed to ensuring that PALM workers are “properly paid and properly treated,” and that any mistreatment or underpayment will be pursued through enforcement measures.
“We want PALM workers to be protected and supported. If there have been people who have been mistreated or not paid well, we will engage with enforcement authorities and make sure that compliance is imposed,” she said.
Wong noted the significant contribution of Ni-Vanuatu to the PALM scheme, stating that Vanuatu sends more workers to Australia than any other Pacific country.
“That’s important for your economy and important for ours. We want the program to work for both countries—and we want workers to be respected and treated appropriately,” she said.
The Foreign Minister confirmed that the issue of worker rights under the PALM scheme was raised during bilateral discussions with Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat.
“One of the things I discussed with the Prime Minister is centralising PALM in our Nakamal discussions. We think it’s central to our relationship, including the completely reasonable expectation that Ni-Vanuatu in Australia will be treated as they should be—under the law.”
The Daily Post understands that not all workers are subjected to poor conditions, and many continue to benefit positively under the PALM scheme. In several instances, concerns about mistreatment appear to relate specifically to workers who have disengaged or breached their contract arrangements, which puts them in more vulnerable and unregulated situations.
On the issue of worker disengagement, Wong said Australia has seen a “real reduction” in the number of Ni-Vanuatu PALM workers absconding from their contracts in recent years, attributing the improvement to ongoing collaboration with churches, communities, and support networks.
Meanwhile, the Vanuatu Ministry of Internal Affairs has issued a strong reminder yesterday following the recent deportation of a seasonal worker under the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) who breached visa conditions. In a statement released yesterday, the Ministry confirmed the deportation and stressed that non-compliance—such as overstaying, breaking contracts, or absconding—can result in deportation, fines, and bans from future participation in the scheme.
“These actions not only impact the individuals involved but also put the entire program at risk for other workers and communities who rely on these opportunities,” the Ministry warned.
Minister of Internal Affairs Andrew Napuat urged all seasonal workers to respect their visa terms and return home before their visas expire.
“Deportations of this nature have painted a negative picture not only on the individuals involved but also on other Ni-Vanuatu participating in the same seasonal work programmes,” he said.
Both governments reiterated their commitment to strengthening the seasonal work schemes, with a shared focus on improving worker welfare and ensuring the integrity of the program is preserved for the benefit of all.
SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST
