I am pleased to announce that Fiji has today joined Australia's new Pacific Labour Scheme. Fiji is the 10th nation to join our labour mobility initiative.
Under the program, Fijian workers can now undertake non-seasonal work for up to three years, in rural and regional Australia.
The scheme helps Australian businesses in rural and regional areas to address labour shortages and provides a significant boost for Pacific economies.
Fiji has participated for a number of years in the Seasonal Worker Programme, providing almost 1,000 Fijian workers since 2012.
I am pleased that more Fijian workers will now have access to employment and skills development opportunities through the Pacific Labour Scheme.
I signed the Memorandum of Understanding today at Parliament House in Canberra with His Excellency Mr Luke Daunivalu, High Commissioner of Fiji.
Fiji joins eight other Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste in the Scheme.
Visit http://dfat.gov.au/labourmobility to learn more about Australia's labour mobility initiatives, including the Pacific Labour Scheme.
