The PALM Scheme: Everything Employers Should Know

International labour mobility through the PALM Scheme has long been the backbone of Australia’s agricultural workforce. Welcoming over 40,000 Working Holiday Makers into the country each year, Australia relies immensely on backpackers and Working Holiday Makers to supplement our agricultural workforce and support farmers during peak season.

With CoVid19 preventing Working Holiday Makers from joining the Australian workforce, in April 2022 Australia introduced the PALM Scheme, allowing eligible workers from select island nations to join Australia’s workforce for long or short-term employment.

For eligible employers, the PALM Scheme can have incredible benefits – Read on to learn more and learn about the Scheme and how Pulse Travel can support your workforce through it.

 

What is Australia’s PALM Scheme

Standing for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme, Australia’s PALM Scheme allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from select Pacific Islands to fill a variety of unskilled, low- or semi-skilled positions. Commonly used to help fill labour gaps within the regional Australian workforce, the PALM Scheme provides Australian businesses a pool of reliable and productive workers, while also offering opportunities for Pacific and Timor-Leste workers to develop skills and generate income to support their families back home.

Limited to a select number of third-world nations, eligible nations include:

• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

 

Citizens from these countries are able to travel to Australia and work under the same protections as any other Australian employee, providing guaranteed labour for Australian businesses and a reliable source of income for families who need it.

 

PALM Scheme: Opportunities for Employers and Workers

With over 40,000 Working Holiday Makers visiting Australia each year, a significant portion of Australia’s short- and long-term agricultural workforce is made up of Visa-holders.

For those in the agricultural and farming industries, the short-staffing issues that came from the covid-19 pandemic meant struggling to harvest all of their crops during peak season, or having to pay significantly higher overheads resulting in increased prices for Australians. In comparison, people in Pacific and Island nations such as those included under the PALM Scheme faced significant challenges in looking after their families.

The PALM Scheme brings significant support for people in both of these situations – Those in rural workforces can apply to employ reliable, long-term staff members and those who may be struggling to make sufficient income can apply to work in Australia under the PALM Scheme and send money home to their families.

Providing opportunities for short-term employment (up to 9 months) or long-term employment (between one and four years), Australian rural businesses can be supported with guaranteed staff while citizens of select islands can be guaranteed stable finances.

 

Navigating Travel Arrangements Under the PALM Scheme

While the process for obtaining staff through the PALM Scheme is fairly straightforward, there are several things businesses need to consider before their staff join the business – Including which visa their staff members will be working under, and how they will reach the country once the process is complete.

Employers have several obligations under the PALM Scheme throughout the recruitment process, including:

• Applying and paying for the worker visa in the Home Affairs IMMI system.
• Providing HAP ID’s to Labour Sending Unit (LSU).
• Arranging and providing information on all travel details including accommodation, travel plans and arrival.

As businesses are responsible for ensuring their staff arrive into the country safely, it’s important to ensure all travel details are looked after thoroughly and any required health checks, visa requirements and specific travel needs are managed for a smooth transition. If a business hasn’t been through this process before, it can be recommended to hire a Travel Agency with experience in Group and Corporate Travel such as Pulse Travel to manage this process.

 

Compliance & Worker Wellbeing in the PALM Scheme

While the concept of a guaranteed long-term workforce can be alluring to many businesses, the PALM Scheme has built-in protections for both employees and employers to ensure both parties are satisfied with the arrangements.

 

PALM Scheme Employee Protections

For employees, this looks like ensuring appropriate accommodation, work hours and safe working conditions. Any employer who wants to employ staff through the PALM Scheme must:

• Provide accommodation that meets the required standards.
• Ensure sufficient work hours that are in line with the minimum required hours.
• Work with the PALM Scheme to appoint a welfare and wellbeing officer within the organisation.
• Provide appropriate social support to staff employed through the scheme.

Businesses can also expect arranged and surprise site visits to the premises to ensure staff are looked after appropriately at all times.

PALM Scheme Employer Protections

For those looking to employ staff through the PALM Scheme, ensuring the satisfaction of businesses is also a key priority.

People looking to gain work through the PALM Scheme must also meet certain requirements, including:

• Be physically fit and healthy for the specified work.
• Have no criminal record and be of good character.
• Have an intention to return to the participating country.
• Hold or obtain a valid passport for the duration of the contract.
• Have a reasonable standard of English.

Employers who are looking to employ through the PALM Scheme will work closely with the Labour Sending Unit (LSU) to ensure all candidates for their job are eligible.

 

Why Choose Pulse Travel for PALM Scheme Travel Management

With PALM Scheme employers responsible for paying their employees’ upfront travel costs and arranging all flights, accommodation and other transport, it’s important to do it correctly.

For businesses, this looks like working with an experienced Corporate Travel Agency such as Pulse Travel. Not only can Pulse Travel source, book and troubleshoot any flights or accommodation needed within the budget set by your business, but they can also ensure any accommodation chosen meets the PALM Scheme’s accommodation requirements set out in the Wellbeing Plan.

Pulse Travel has over 30 years of experience in the Travel industry, booking corporate and leisure travel for hundreds of businesses. If you’re looking to obtain staff through the PALM Scheme in 2024 and need support booking your staff’s travel requirements, get in touch today.