Pacific workers helping Australian farmers and tourism industry
On 18 December 2011, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Australia's Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations, Financial Services and Superannuation; the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Australia's then Minister for Foreign Affairs; and the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, Australia's Minister for Tourism, announced the Seasonal Worker Program, to begin on 1 July 2012.
This initiative builds on the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme (PSWPS) - the MOU for Solomon Islands' inclusion in the PSWPS was signed in Honiara on 13 December 2011 by Foreign Minister Shanel and Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles.
The Seasonal Worker Program will be open to employers in the horticultural industry and seasonal workers from Solomon Islands, East Timor, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
The Australian Government will also undertake a small-scale, three year trial of seasonal labour mobility arrangements with cotton and cane growers, aquaculture ventures and accommodation providers in the tourism industry.
The full media release is attached and more information is available from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website.