Australia's Pacific guest worker scheme

Last Updated: 9 September 2008

Under the pilot scheme, 2,500 short-term working visas will be available for work in Australia's horticultural industry. [AFP]

Under the pilot scheme, 2,500 short-term working visas will be available for work in Australia's horticultural industry. [AFP]

After months of speculation, and years of lobbying, the Australian Prime Minister announced in August 2008, that Australia would be introducing a trial Pacific islands guest worker scheme.

Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program has been following the story, looking at the challenges, benefits and issues for both Australia and the Pacific during the scheme's introduction.

A pilot program

Under the pilot program, 2,500 short-term working visas will be available to low-skilled labourers from Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu for work in the horticultural industry.

Union and political concerns

Some Australian unions, and the Australian political opposition, however, expressed concern about the proposal.

Those fears include the possibility of over stayers; a situation were the scheme because a migration program, rather than for short-term work; the possible downward pressures on Australian wage rates; the risks of exploitation for the workers; and security.

Community and agricultural benefits

The scheme has been described by supporters as a neat symmetry, the ageing Australian population and its shortage of seasonal farm workers combining with the growing young populations in the Pacific, many of whom would struggle to find unskilled work at home.