Pacific labour scheme workers find refuge in rural communities after employer abuse

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A hidden crisis is unfolding in Australia’s flagship Pacific development program known as the PALM scheme, with workers leaving their employers, accusing them of being abusive. Many have sought refuge in rural communities after becoming undocumented, unemployed and homeless.

Transcript

00:00Susan Pinoo wanted to provide for her family back in Solomon Islands and save money for university.

00:10So she joined Australia's Seasonal Worker Scheme.

00:13But things quickly took a turn for the worse.

00:16I was left with nothing. Sometimes we're gonna left with 100 bucks, 200.

00:23After 11 months of irregular hours and poor pay, Susan said she had no choice but to leave.

00:29I feel sad. I feel like commit suicide. Yeah.

00:37Pregnant with her daughter, she found refuge in Leeton in the New South Wales Riverina.

00:43Now on a bridging visa, she is one of more than 7,000 workers who have left the Palm Scheme and stayed in Australia since 2019.

00:52The experiences of these workers is the focus of a new report.

00:56We saw several pay slips that people showed us where they'd receive like zero take home pay.

01:02They're largely being, you know, exposed to situations that are equivalent to modern slavery.

01:08In your country, do your country...

01:10Locals in Leeton hope the solutions they're trying will become a model for the rest of the country.

01:14We can't walk away when we see people that maybe haven't been treated fairly.

01:19They don't really know where to go. They're frightened. They don't have any real connection.

01:24So we fill that gap.

01:26The Palm Scheme is often called a win-win for farmers and Pacific Island labourers.

01:32And many are relying on its success. Experts are calling for changes they say will keep more workers in the scheme.

01:39There needs to be much more flexibility for people as individuals employed on the Palm Scheme visa to actually have their say.

01:48They should feel empowered and able to make requests to move within the scheme.

01:54Providing hope and security to those who need it most.

01:58That will change.

01:59What cause you for people who don't want to call...

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