Rapid analysis of family separation issues and responses in the PALM scheme – final report

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme streamlines Australia’s existing ‘guestworker’ migration initiatives with Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and Timor-Leste: the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS).

Both initiatives provide temporary employment opportunities in rural and regional Australia, entailing placements of up to 9 months within the SWP and up to 3 years within the PLS. They also do not allow for family accompaniment, which can mean prolonged periods of transnational family separation that may place strain on social ties and familial relationships. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some workers and their families experience difficulties maintaining relationships at a distance – including instances of extramarital affairs, relationship breakdowns and challenges associated with managing childcare and other domestic responsibilities.

This scoping study examines social and programmatic issues relating to family separation from the perspective of labour sending unit (LSU) staff in PICs and Timor-Leste, who are the primary point of contact for the families of migrant workers deployed in Australia. In-depth interviews were facilitated by the Pacific Labour Facility (PLF) and conducted with LSU staff in Fiji, Samoa, Timor-Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu to:

   i) establish the frequency and nature of issues associated with family separation

   ii) gauge the effects of extended separation, within the PLS and in the SWP during COVID

   iii) survey existing and proposed measures to address these problems

   iv) identify stakeholders and resources required to enhance support mechanisms. 

Key policy recommendations emerging from the study include:

   • comprehensively involving families in pre-departure briefings and trainings

   • expanding or establishing family welfare support services during migration

   • formalising support for temporary family accompaniment within the PLS

   • strengthening monitoring and evaluation of social issues in all labour mobility initiatives

   • limiting repeat migration within the PLS