Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports, Parveen Kumar Bala, while bidding farewell to 127 selected Fijian workers, acknowledged the Vuvale Partnership arrangements between the Fijian and the Australian Governments yesterday (9/11/2022).
Minister Bala highlighted that the partnership arrangement that commenced in 2019 allows Fijian workers to work in Australia under the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS).
Minister Bala added that the Fijian Government deployed a total of 7,493 workers to date both in Australia and New Zealand.
"Of these, a total of 2,372 were engaged under the Australian Seasonal Worker Program (SWP), a total of 3,169 under the PLS, whilst a total of 1,952 were engaged under the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Work Scheme,” said Bala.
On behalf of the Fijian Government, the Employment Minister expressed his sincere gratitude to the Australian Government for this Government-to-Government arrangement for a win-win outcome for both countries.
Minister Bala also extended his appreciation to the Australian and New Zealand employers for their confidence in recruiting Fijian workers under the RSE work scheme in New Zealand and the PALM Scheme in Australia.