Fiji joins the Pacific Labour Scheme
I am pleased to announce that Fiji has today joinedAustralia's new Pacific Labour Scheme. Fiji is the 10th nation tojoin our labour mobility initiative.
Under the program, Fijian workers can now undertakenon-seasonal work for up to three years, in rural and regional Australia.
The scheme helps Australian businesses in rural andregional areas to address labour shortages and provides a significant boost forPacific economies.
Fiji has participated for a number of years in theSeasonal Worker Programme, providing almost 1,000 Fijian workers since 2012.
I am pleased that more Fijian workers will now haveaccess to employment and skills development opportunities through the PacificLabour Scheme.
I signed the Memorandum of Understanding today atParliament House in Canberra with His Excellency Mr Luke Daunivalu, HighCommissioner of Fiji.
Fiji joins eight other Pacific Island countries andTimor-Leste in the Scheme.
Visit http://dfat.gov.au/labourmobility to learn more about Australia's labour mobility initiatives, including thePacific Labour Scheme.