PALM Scheme Not the Cause of Fiji's Skills Shortages

The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Hon. Agni Deo Singh, has expressed concern over recent claims suggesting that the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme is a major driver of Fiji's skills shortages.

Hon. Singh said that while Fiji, like many countries around the world, faces genuine workforce challenges in certain sectors, it is important that public discussions on the issue are guided by facts rather than assumptions.

"The overwhelming majority of workers participating in the PALM Scheme are employed in seasonal and lower-skilled occupations, particularly in agriculture, horticulture, meat processing and related industries. Many of these workers come from rural and maritime communities where employment opportunities are often limited," Hon. Singh said.

"It is therefore difficult to reconcile claims that the PALM Scheme is responsible for shortages in highly skilled professions such as accountants, IT technicians, electricians, engineers and other specialised occupations that require years of education, training and certification."

Hon. Singh noted that Fiji's labour market challenges are complex and influenced by a range of factors, including economic growth, increased demand for skilled workers, global competition for talent, demographic changes, education and training capacity, and broader migration trends.

"To suggest that a programme largely focused on seasonal and lower-skilled employment is the primary cause of shortages in technical and professional occupations oversimplifies a much more complex issue," he said.

Hon. Singh said the PALM Scheme has provided life-changing opportunities for thousands of Fijian families.

"Through lawful overseas employment, workers have been able to build homes, educate their children, support elderly relatives, establish small businesses and improve their overall quality of life," he said.

"The scheme has also generated significant remittances that directly support communities throughout Fiji, particularly in rural and maritime areas where economic opportunities can be limited."

Hon. Singh said labour mobility and domestic workforce development should not be viewed as competing priorities.

"Fiji can and must continue to strengthen technical training, apprenticeships, higher education and workforce planning while also ensuring that Fijians have access to safe and decent employment opportunities overseas," he said.

"The answer to skills shortages is not to restrict opportunities for ordinary Fijians seeking to improve their lives and support their families."

Hon. Singh said the Ministry remains committed to ensuring that labour mobility programmes operate responsibly while continuing to create opportunities for Fijian workers and their families.

"As #Fiji continues to grow, the focus should be on creating more opportunities, developing more skills and training more workers, not limiting opportunities for those who are seeking a better future through legal employment pathways," he said.

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