The Solomon Islands Government has celebrated another significant milestone, with more than 13,000 deployments to Australia undertaken by Solomon Islanders through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
The achievement reflects the strong reputation of Solomon Islanders among Australian PALM scheme employers and the effective processes of the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU).
Director of the LMU, Christina Maoma, said the milestone was the result of years of work to establish systems that connect employers with well-prepared workers.
“I am very proud we have reached this milestone. There has been a lot of work put into preparing workers and making sure workers are ready for life in Australia,” Director Maoma said.
“This achievement reflects the commitment of our team, the support of the Solomon Islands Government, and the dedication of Solomon Islanders who continue to represent our country well in Australia.”
Ms Maoma said the continued growth of recruitment demonstrates the confidence employers have in the LMU’s processes and the quality of candidates in the work ready pool.
Demand from employers remains the key factor determining how many workers are mobilised each year. Under the PALM scheme, Australian approved employers make the final decision on who is recruited and how many workers they require.
To increase interest in Solomon Island workers, the Australian Government in partnership with the LMU has implemented new training opportunities for workers in recent years, with training being delivered in car and forklift driving, meat works, hospitality and aged care, to name a few.
“We are listening to the needs of employers and are trying to make sure they get the workers they need. We do this all in an effort to increase employment opportunities for Solomon Islanders,” Director Maoma said.
The milestone comes after positive feedback during a recent online engagement session, in which 45 approved employers from across Australia participated.
The session included current PALM scheme employers and others who were exploring opportunities to recruit Solomon Islanders for the first time.
Feedback from employers during the session was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting a positive working relationship they have with the Labour Mobility Unit and the quality of workers from Solomon Islands.
Australian High Commissioner Jeff Roach said Solomon Islanders should be proud of this important milestone.
“I’m not surprised to hear that Solomon Islanders have a great reputation with Australian employers,” said High Commissioner Roach.
“They are a credit to their country and are valued and appreciated by Australians for the important contribution they make to our economy.
“I’m glad Australia is giving back by supporting workers’ families back home through record remittances.”
Director Mamoa said the LMU had a strong process backing PALM deployments to Australia.
“We use a centralised system which prioritises high standards and employer satisfaction,” Director Maoma said.
“All applications come through the LMU, this is to ensure we keep a high standard of participant quality and attitude.
“It also means that applying is free, so you will never be asked to pay money via any agents but only apply under LMU processes.”
“Recruitment will continue from the existing work ready pool, and as employer demand continues to grow, we look forward to creating even more opportunities for Solomon Islanders to participate in the PALM scheme in the future.”
Australia is committed to creating jobs for Solomon Islanders, both at home and abroad. Since 2021, Australia has created and supported over 36,000 jobs for Solomon Islanders and in Solomon Islands.
