Australia has a workforce problem that’s not going away anytime soon. Regional industries — agriculture, aged care, hospitality, meat processing — are running short on workers, and local supply simply isn’t keeping up with demand. The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is the Australian Government’s most targeted response to this crisis.
If you’re an Australian employer struggling to fill roles, or a Pacific Island worker looking for legal, structured employment in Australia, the PALM scheme is arguably the most important labour mobility program operating in the country right now. This guide breaks everything down — no fluff, no circular government-speak.
What Is the PALM Scheme?
The PALM scheme — short for Pacific Australia Labour Mobility — is a bilateral labour mobility program managed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR). It came into its current unified form in 2022, consolidating two older programs: the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS).
The idea is straightforward. Approved Australian employers can recruit workers from nine Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste to fill genuine workforce gaps in approved industries. Workers come on a temporary basis, earn Australian wages, and return home at the end of their work period — bringing skills and savings that support their home economies.
It’s not a free-for-all. Employers must be formally approved by the government, comply with strict obligations around pay, accommodation, and worker welfare, and demonstrate that no suitable Australian workers are available before recruiting offshore.
The Two Streams: Short-Term vs Long-Term
The PALM scheme operates through two distinct streams, and choosing the right one matters a lot for both employers and workers.
Short-Term Stream (formerly Seasonal Worker Programme)
The short-term stream suits employers with cyclical or seasonal labour demands — think fruit harvests, cane cutting, or peak hospitality periods.
- Duration: Up to 9 months within any 12-month period
- Sectors: Primarily agriculture and accommodation/tourism
- Entry: Workers can enter multiple times over the course of their eligibility
- Best for: Farms, orchards, vineyards, hospitality businesses in regional Australia
Long-Term Stream (formerly Pacific Labour Scheme)
The long-term stream is designed for employers who need stable, ongoing workforce solutions — not just seasonal cover.
- Duration: Up to 3 years, extendable to 4 years in total
- Sectors: Broader — includes aged care, meat processing, horticulture, disability care, and more
- Pathway: Workers can potentially rotate or extend based on employer need and DEWR approval
- Best for: Healthcare providers, food manufacturing, large agricultural operations
Which Countries Are Eligible?
Workers must come from one of the following approved PALM scheme countries:
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
These aren’t arbitrary choices. Australia has formal bilateral agreements with each of these nations, and the program is partly a foreign policy instrument — it’s designed to strengthen economic ties across the Pacific region while addressing Australia’s domestic workforce gaps simultaneously.
What Jobs Are Covered? Approved Sectors Under PALM
The PALM scheme covers a specific (and expanding) list of industries. Workers don’t need university degrees or advanced professional qualifications — the focus is on practical, semi-skilled and low-skilled roles in sectors where labour shortages are most acute.
Agriculture and Horticulture Fruit picking, vegetable harvesting, pruning, packing — this is historically the backbone of the program. Regional farms across Queensland, Victoria, WA, and SA rely heavily on PALM workers during harvest periods.
Meat Processing and Abattoirs Boning rooms, slaughter floors, quality inspection — meat processing is physically demanding work that has chronic local worker shortages. PALM workers fill these roles across regional processing facilities.
Accommodation and Tourism Hotels, resorts, and hospitality venues in regional and tourist areas can access PALM workers for housekeeping, food service, and general operations roles.
Aged Care and Disability Support This is one of the newer and growing sectors under the long-term stream. Personal care assistants, support workers, and residential care roles are now accessible to PALM workers with appropriate qualifications or willingness to train.
Aquaculture and Fishing Processing plants and on-water roles in Australia’s seafood industry are included under the approved sector list.
Horticulture Packing and Storage Post-harvest roles in cool stores, packing sheds, and distribution points are approved alongside field roles.
Cotton and Cane Seasonal work in cotton growing and sugarcane harvesting is a traditional area of PALM deployment, particularly in Queensland.
How the Application Process Works for Employers
Getting into the PALM scheme isn’t instant. There are gatekeeping requirements designed to protect both Australian workers and the Pacific workers being recruited. Here’s how the employer-side process works:
Step 1 — Become an Approved Employer Employers must apply to DEWR to become an “Approved Employer” under the PALM scheme. This involves demonstrating your business is genuine, financially stable, and operating in an approved sector. You’ll need to show evidence of workforce need and confirm you’ve tried to recruit locally first.
Step 2 — Labour Market Testing Before recruiting offshore, employers must conduct genuine Labour Market Testing (LMT) — advertising the roles locally and demonstrating that no suitable Australian workers applied or were available. This isn’t a tick-box formality; DEWR scrutinises these records.
Step 3 — Submit a Worker Request Once approved and LMT is complete, employers submit a request to DEWR specifying the number of workers needed, the roles, duration, and which Pacific countries they’d like to recruit from.
Step 4 — In-Country Recruitment Recruitment typically happens through DEWR-connected in-country labour sending units or approved recruitment agencies operating in Pacific nations. Employers can also work with Approved Employer Agents who specialise in PALM recruitment.
Step 5 — Pre-Departure and Arrival Workers undergo health checks, police clearances, and pre-departure orientation in their home country. Employers are responsible for organising arrival logistics, accommodation, and orientation in Australia.
Step 6 — Ongoing Compliance Employers must maintain compliance throughout the workers’ stay — this includes paying correct wages, providing adequate accommodation, maintaining records, and reporting to DEWR as required.
PALM Visa: What Workers Need to Know
Workers under the PALM scheme enter Australia on a specific temporary work visa. The visa conditions are tied directly to the approved employer and the PALM scheme framework.
Visa Subclass: Workers enter on the Subclass 403 (Temporary Work — International Relations) visa under the PALM stream, or related subclasses depending on stream and timing.
Duration: Tied to the stream — short-term up to 9 months, long-term up to 3–4 years.
Work Rights: PALM visa holders can only work for their sponsoring employer in approved roles. Changing employers requires DEWR approval — workers cannot independently switch jobs.
No Family Members: Generally, PALM workers cannot bring family members to Australia on this program.
Tax: PALM workers are treated as Australian residents for tax purposes if they stay 6 months or more with one employer, meaning they access standard tax rates rather than foreign resident rates.
Superannuation: Workers are entitled to superannuation contributions. However, they can claim a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) when they leave — though a 65% tax rate applies to DASP for Working Holiday visa holders; PALM workers have different arrangements, and this should be confirmed with a registered migration agent.
Worker Rights and Protections
One of the most important — and sometimes misunderstood — aspects of the PALM scheme is that Pacific workers have full Australian workplace rights. They are not operating outside the Fair Work system.
Minimum Wage: PALM workers must be paid at least the Australian minimum wage or relevant Award rate, whichever is higher. Underpayment is a serious compliance breach.
Accommodation Standards: Employers are responsible for providing or arranging accommodation that meets Australian standards. Accommodation costs can be deducted from wages, but only within legal limits — excessive deductions are prohibited.
Workplace Safety: All Australian workplace health and safety laws apply equally to PALM workers. Employers cannot cut corners on safety because workers are from overseas.
Freedom from Coercion: Workers cannot be threatened, intimidated, or manipulated. The Australian Border Force and Fair Work Ombudsman both have jurisdiction over PALM employer conduct.
Grievance Pathways: Workers have access to formal complaints processes through DEWR, Fair Work, and their home country’s in-country labour sending unit if something goes wrong.
What Does It Cost?
Cost transparency is important — both for employers and workers.
For Employers:
- DEWR application and registration fees apply
- Travel costs (airfares) are typically shared or employer-funded, depending on negotiation
- Accommodation setup and management costs
- Ongoing compliance administration
For Workers:
- Workers should not be paying excessive upfront fees. Ethical recruitment under PALM does not require workers to take on large loans or pay predatory placement fees. If a recruiter is demanding large upfront payments from workers, this is a red flag.
- Standard deductions from wages (accommodation, food where agreed) must be within legal limits
Common Questions About the PALM Scheme
Can a worker extend their stay beyond 4 years? Not directly under the PALM scheme. The long-term stream caps at 4 years. Workers must return home before potentially re-entering under a new cycle. There is no direct permanent residency pathway built into the PALM scheme itself.
Is there a PALM scheme pathway to permanent residency? Not currently as a built-in feature of the PALM scheme. However, long-term workers who gain skills and experience in Australia may separately explore other visa pathways — such as employer-sponsored skilled visas — if they meet relevant criteria. This requires professional migration advice.
Can PALM workers bring family? Generally no — the PALM scheme is structured as a solo worker program. This is one of its common criticisms and a point of ongoing policy discussion.
What happens if a worker leaves their employer? Workers are tied to their sponsoring employer. Leaving without DEWR approval puts the worker’s visa status at risk. If there are genuine welfare concerns, workers should contact DEWR or their in-country sending unit immediately — there are support mechanisms in place.
How long does PALM employer approval take? Processing times vary based on application completeness and volume, but employers should realistically plan for several weeks to months from initial application to having workers on the ground. Starting early is critical — this is not a quick-fix recruitment tool.
What’s the difference between a labour hire firm and an Approved Employer Agent? Approved Employer Agents are businesses registered with DEWR to assist employers with the PALM scheme. Not all labour hire companies are authorised. Working with an unregistered agent can jeopardise your approval and your workers’ visa status.
The Bottom Line for Employers
The PALM scheme is one of the most structured and legitimate pathways to address regional workforce shortages in Australia. But it requires genuine commitment — to compliance, to worker welfare, and to a medium-to-long-term recruitment relationship with Pacific communities. Employers who treat it as a shortcut or a loophole tend to run into serious problems.
Those who invest in getting the process right — and who treat their PALM workers with the same legal obligations and human dignity as any Australian employee — consistently report it as a transformative workforce solution.
The Bottom Line for Workers
If you’re from a PALM-eligible country and you’re looking for structured, legal employment in Australia, the scheme offers real wages, real protections, and real economic opportunity. But protect yourself: use official in-country channels, understand your rights before you depart, and be very cautious about anyone asking for large upfront payments to “secure” you a placement.
Get Expert Help with the PALM Scheme
Whether you’re an Australian employer trying to navigate the approval process, or a worker from a Pacific nation wanting to understand your options — getting the details right matters. PALM scheme applications are document-heavy, compliance is non-negotiable, and the cost of getting it wrong is high.
Migration Republic is an Australia-based migration consultancy with hands-on experience helping employers and workers navigate the PALM scheme and broader Australian immigration pathways.
👉 Visit migrationrepublic.com.au to get expert guidance, understand your eligibility, and take the next step with confidence.
Don’t navigate Australian labour mobility on your own — the rules matter, and the right advice can save you significant time, money, and stress.
