Pacific labour scheme

The programme is expected to recommence from mid-April to May 2021.

The workers will be the first cohorts to travel to Australia from Samoa since April 2020 in the wake of Covid-19, resulting in international travel restrictions and border closures.

A statement said the first few flights to Australia will include both new and returning workers, including those who planned to travel in the beginning of 2020 but their travel had been cancelled due to the border closures.

This scheme gives Papua New Guineans the opportunity to attain low to semi-skilled jobs in Australia.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, announced this on November 16^th in Port Moresby, following the 30^th APEC Ministerial Meeting.

The Minister said the Australian government’s decision is to increase engagement in the region.

“Our Pacific Labour Scheme will be progressively now rolled out across key Pacific island countries, up from the current six nations who are the current participants,” she said.

RNZ reports the RSE scheme will now increase by 1,000 workers to 10,500 for the coming horticulture and viticulture season.

The Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said the sector was forecasting an additional 2,500 workers would be needed for the upcoming season.

The RSE scheme allows people from Pacific Island countries to work in New Zealand for periods of about six months at a time.