The Solomon Islands government has launched an ambitious campaign to raise its annual allocation under Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme from 3,000 to 5,000 workers. Speaking at a labour-mobility expo in Honiara, Prime Minister Matthew Wale urged Australian agribusinesses and hospitality chains to “be more ambitious” and tap the country’s sizeable young workforce. The push comes amid strong employer demand in regional Australia, where PALM workers fill critical roles in horticulture, meat processing and tourism. Remittances from Solomon Islands workers already exceed SBD 500 million annually—about 5 per cent of GDP—making the scheme a pillar of both nations’ economic strategies. Canberra has signalled openness to larger intakes, but officials are stressing the importance of worker-welfare safeguards after recent media reports about sub-standard accommodation in parts of rural Queensland. A pilot family-accompaniment program, due to start next year, is also expected to make PALM roles more attractive to mid-career professionals. For Australian employers the proposed expansion could ease chronic labour shortages ahead of the 2027 harvest cycle. Mobility teams should, however, budget for higher pastoral-care obligations, including cultural-training modules and on-arrival support, as DFAT tightens oversight of employer compliance.
Source: ABC Pacific – Pacific Beat
