Australian government reverses promise of guaranteed hours for Pacific workers

Human Rights Research Center
Oct 23
3 min read

October 23, 2025

HRRC condemns the Australian government’s decision not to guarantee weekly hours for more than 10,000 Pacific workers. Short-term workers would benefit greatly from guaranteed hours under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, and the risks of not proceeding with this plan could be detrimental to both their safety and security. We urge the Australian government to reconsider this decision.

The safety and security of 14,000 Pacific workers has been put at risk by the Australian government’s decision not to go forward with a weekly guaranteed hours plan. Under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, a promise was made to provide 30 hours of work per week for individuals on short-term contracts—it now seems like this is not going to be the case.

The PALM scheme was set up by the Australian government to fill workforce gaps in rural areas of the country. Through the programme, short-term and long-term work placements are offered to people from the Pacific, with around 30,000 people currently employed. The scheme is open to residents from ten countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste) and has received substantial acclaim.

However, in certain industries PALM has been met with accusations of worker mistreatment. In agriculture, Pacific workers often face poor working conditions, and over the last five years thousands of workers have absconded due to issues with fair pay, stability etc. Compounding the issue, weather fluctuations can affect the promise of work from employers, making a systematic guarantee of hours for workers essential in protecting their long-term welfare.

To alleviate this problem, in 2023 the government announced that all of PALM’s short-term workers would be guaranteed 30 working hours each week. This condition was due to begin in April of this year, but the Australian government has quietly cancelled the initiative, leaving many workers unsure of their security within the programme.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth released a statement stating that the decision would be beneficial for both PALM workers and PALM scheme employers. However, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has been quick to condemn the decision. They stated that the cancellation “leaves vulnerable workers subject to exploitation in a scheme that has already seen concerns raised of modern slavery”.

For PALM to continue functioning in a meaningful way, changes to the programme need to be more fully considered. Any future amendments should involve consultations with all parties, including Pacific workers and their representative organisations. This kind of collaboration would increase the likelihood of the scheme being beneficial for everyone involved

Glossary

absconded – to leave hurriedly and secretly, often to avoid punishment or obligation.
alleviate – to make a problem or situation less severe.
beneficial – producing a positive or helpful effect.
compounding – making a situation worse by adding to it.
condemn – to express strong disapproval of something.
detrimental – causing harm or damage.
exploitation – the unfair or unethical use of someone for personal or economic gain.
fluctuations – changes or variations, especially irregular ones.
mistreatment – the act of treating someone badly or unfairly.
modern slavery – situations where individuals are forced to work against their will, under threat, coercion, or deception, and cannot leave.
Pacific workers – workers from Pacific Island countries participating in programs such as the PALM scheme.
placements – positions or assignments given to workers or students.
quietly – without public announcement or attention; subtly; done without drawing notice.
rural – relating to the countryside rather than towns or cities.
scheme – a systematic plan or arrangement
substantial acclaim – significant praise or recognition.
vulnerable workers – workers who are at increased risk of exploitation or mistreatment due to factors such as immigration status, lack of protections, or economic dependence.
workforce- all the people who are available for work in a company or industry.

Sources

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Australian government reverses promise of guaranteed hours for Pacific workers

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