Fijians push for access to Seasonal Worker Program

By Jesse Doyle
14 October 2013

A group of Fiji-born Australian citizens and residents has been pushing for the country’s inclusion in the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP). Fiji has been excluded from the scheme since its inception, largely as a result of the 2006 military coup. The political upheaval saw Australia implement a series of sanctions targeting the military regime.  Fijians are also banned from the much larger New Zealand Pacific islander farm-work program.

According to one of the key campaigners, Audrey Finau Dropsy, excluding Fijian workers from participating in the SWP for a situation that was out of their control is unfair. The campaigners have sent a formal request for meetings with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and the Minister for Employment Eric Abetz.

The campaign has been gradually building momentum since last year, led by community groups the Voice of the Pacific and the United Pacific Council of Victoria.

Remittances currently account for 4.5% of Fiji’s GDP and have become the largest source of foreign exchange earnings after tourism.

 

About the author/s

Jesse Doyle
Jesse Doyle is a Social Protection Economist with the World Bank in Sydney. His areas of focus encompass social protection, labor mobility and youth employment. Prior to joining the World Bank, he worked as a Research Officer with the Development Policy Centre and held research related roles with the Institute for International Development, the World Policy Institute, Eurasia Group, and Grameen Bank.

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