The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports, Parveen Kumar Bala, while farewelling the 198 selected Fijian workers on Friday (12/08/22), reiterated that the foreign employment opportunities focused on improving living standards for the families of the selected workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme as well as their communities.
Minister Bala in his statement highlighted that the rural communities including villages are not empty from this scheme but families are enjoying the improvement of their livelihood through the remittances received, by the construction of their homes, education of children and their ability to meet village/community/religious financial commitments.
“As Minister responsible for Employment, while I had congratulated you all on your selection, I must also ensure that our local employers are not disadvantaged by all of you leaving our shores."
“Please notify your current employers well in advance of your intentions. Do good to them, as they have done good to you before your new employer,” he added.
Minister Bala sincerely acknowledged the support by the Australian Government and the Approved Employers (AEs) for their regular recruitment of Fijian workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme, which directly benefits many Fijian families, their communities and our economy through increased remittances.