Fijian Palm Worker Receives AUD $200,000

Fiji has recorded its first-ever insurance payout to a PALM worker, after Mosese Soqeta Saresarevata received AUD $200,000 under a new life insurance scheme for Pacific labourers.

The Permanent Secretary for the Fiji Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Mr Maritino Nemani, together with the CEO of Regional Workforce Management, Mr Brad Scagrott, officially presented the payment today.

Mosese travelled to Australia in June this year to work in the meatworks industry in Victoria. Soon after arriving, he made a simple but wise decision: he signed up for a life insurance scheme that cost only six dollars a week.

He said he was not thinking about himself. He was thinking about the people he loved most.

The insurance scheme was created specifically for PALM workers to support them during serious illness or in the event of death. Not long after joining the program, Mosese received heartbreaking news—he had been diagnosed with a serious illness. At first there was hope, but doctors later confirmed the illness was terminal.

Because of his earlier decision, Mosese’s family will not face financial hardship. The payout of AUD $200,000 has now been made to him, marking the first successful claim under the scheme.

The insurance initiative took almost two years to develop and was launched in September. It aims to give workers dignity, protection and peace of mind while they are away from home.

PS Nemani said Mosese’s story shows courage and love.

“Mosese may never have imagined the impact of his decision, but today his choice is sending a powerful message to every Fijian working under the PALM scheme,” he said. “For just six dollars a week, he secured a future for his family even as he faced the greatest battle of his life. This is more than insurance. It is an act of love, responsibility and faith in tomorrow.”

Mr Nemani also urged all PALM workers to think carefully about their spending priorities.

“We often spend more on things that harm our health than on things that protect our families,” he said. “Mosese changed that pattern. His story should inspire every worker to make a small sacrifice that can one day make a life-changing difference for the people they care about.”

He encouraged all Fijian PALM workers to follow Mosese’s example, saying that even the smallest weekly contribution can create a huge impact for loved ones in the future.