The welfare of Pacific workers in Australia amid the COVID-19 outbreak is a priority for the Australian government.
That’s the word from Australia’s Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud.
In a statement, Mr Littelproud said his office was working with employers to ensure Pacific workers were supported through the COVID-19 crisis, particularly those workers who were unable to return home.
“Pacific and Timorese workers are highly valued by agricultural employers who have made it clear they want Pacific workers to be able to remain here and continue working.
“Many of these workers have been coming to Australia for a number of years and have strong connections to Australian farming communities. Current travel restrictions and the cessation of commercial flights have left some workers unable to return home, while also stopping new cohorts of Pacific workers from travelling to Australia.
“The flow of remittances back to Pacific communities makes an important contribution to their ability to withstand the economic impacts of COVID-19.”
He said the government was providing Pacific workers with the latest health advice and guidance on navigating COVID-19 restrictions and providing other forms of support, including pastoral care and information in Pacific languages on issues such as social distancing.
The Australian government has also announced that Pacific workers who are in Australia under the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) whose visas are due to expire will be able to remain in Australia for up to 12 months.
