Solomon Islands nationals absconding from rural farms in Australia which recruited them in the first place should be sent home immediately.
At the same time, the government should take steps in ensuring it meets the cost of repatriating the body of Solomon Islands nationals killed in road accidents, the person who asked to remain anonymous, told Solomon Star last week.
The call for action was made in light of an ABC 7:30 Report into the Seasonal Workers scheme, which revealed Fijian workers in the scheme were getting “absolutely nothing” in their weekly pay after deductions.
Some have returned home, according to the ABC report.
One woman, the report said, had to ask her family back in Fiji to send her money, instead of the other way round.
Authorities in Australia are investigating.
Fiji nationals interviewed on the program said their earnings were used to meet charges such as accommodation, transport, health benefits – charges they were not aware of when they signed their contracts.
At the end of the day, they had nothing left to live on, let alone send home to support their families in Fiji.
According to the ABC 7:30 Report, the Fijians were told their take home pay would be between AUD657.02 and AUD595 per week. These workers were picking tomatoes in a farm in Victoria.
In the case of Solomon Islands, the absconders have and continue to tarnish the good name of Solomon Islands.
“We are ashamed because it is not only the men absconders who are involved in drinking binges. Our women too are acting wild, drinking and socializing in an uncontrolled manner on a daily basis. This is a national shame.
“Some are not even working. How they survive we do not know but they are troublemakers. They should be sent home immediately,” the Solomon Islander said.
Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Australia, Robert Sisilo, told Solomon Islands journalists visiting Canberra in March, that when workers disengage, it is best for them to return home to avoid staying illegally in Australia.
Sisilo said that when overstayers apply for protection visas, there is a 99.9% chance of rejection because Australia is well aware of Solomon Islands’ current situation.
“Unlike during the tension years, when people had legitimate security concerns about returning home, today’s applicants face much lower risks,” he said.
Furthermore, the Labour Mobility Unit (LMU) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Traed does not tolerate absconding from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and other labour mobility programs.
“Absconders and those who overstay their visas in Australia while working illegally are permanently blacklisted from future participation in these programs,” LMU said.
The LMU emphasizes that workers who abscond are not protected by the law and lose benefits like superannuation, health insurance, and the ability to travel between the Solomon Islands and Australia.
The person also raised the issue of repatriating the body of someone who died in a road accident outside work.
“This should be the responsibility of the national government because after all, these victims are Solomon Islands citizens. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration should take steps to address this because it is a serious matter.
“Of all the fatal accidents that have occurred, it is the Solomon Islands seasonal workers’ community around Australia that had to pick up the cost of repatriating the bodies back to Solomon Islands out of pocket.
“And yet, our efforts are never recognised by families of the victims back in Solomon Islands. This is a national issue that the government must address.”
A recent advertisement in the media about the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme revealed that around 3,000 Solomon Islanders are currently participating in the program.
By Alfred Sasako
