Organisation : Australian Government
Facility Name : Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM)
Country : Australia
Website : https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/countries
How do I apply for a PALM scheme visa?
** The Subclass 403 Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa is a sponsored visa. This means workers must be invited to apply for the PALM scheme visa by an approved employer which is a temporary activities sponsor (TAS).
** A TAS is an employer that has applied and been approved to become a sponsor through the Department of Home Affairs. It must meet certain sponsorship obligations.
** Employers inviting workers to apply for the visa must also be an approved employer under the PALM scheme.
Related / Similar Status : APRA Financial Claims Scheme Australia
How to apply in your country : https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/
Prioritising support for workers
The wellbeing of workers while they are in Australia is a top priority for the Australian Government and all 10 participating PALM scheme countries.
All Pacific island and Timorese citizens employed in Australia through the PALM scheme are protected by the same workplace rights and health and safety laws as Australian workers.
What do you need to become a PALM scheme employer?
To be eligible to join the PALM scheme, you will need to demonstrate that you
** are an eligible business registered and operating in Australia
** are NOT an individual, sole trader or unincorporated company.
In addition, you must meet a set of eligibility criteria to ensure you are able to fulfil the requirements of the scheme.
How will employers’ and other stakeholders’ interests be represented under the PALM scheme?
** PALM scheme consultative committee arrangements have been established, including a PALM Advisory Group, sector committees and thematic working groups.
** These committees include representatives from industry, employers, Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora, unions, community organisations and the Australian Government.
** The PALM Advisory Group has been meeting regularly (4 meetings to date at the time of launching the PALM scheme on 4 April 2022), as well as regular meetings with committees (agriculture, meat processing, care) which are expected to continue meeting quarterly.
** Sector committees will provide ongoing mechanisms for key stakeholders to engage with issues relevant to Pacific labour mobility and their area of interest and expertise.
What is the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme?
** The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme allows Australian businesses to hire workers from 9 Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available.
** Once approved to participate in the PALM scheme, employers can recruit workers to fill unskilled, low-skilled or semi-skilled positions for seasonal placements up to 9 months or longer-term placements of between one and 4 years.
** Seasonal and longer-term workers can be employed in any sector and in all regional and rural postcodes, except for agriculture which applies to all of Australia.
** Businesses who meet the eligibility criteria can apply to become approved and recruit from either or both cohorts of workers under the PALM scheme.