The 2025 Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting (PLMAM) kicked off in Honiara on 4 November, bringing together labour ministers, recruitment agencies and approved employers from Australia, New Zealand and nine Pacific Island countries to refine regional worker-mobility programs. The Solomon Islands government granted an automatic visa waiver for all registered participants, highlighting the region’s push for smoother cross-border movement.
Day 2 of the forum focuses on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which allows Australian businesses to hire Pacific workers for up to four years. Sessions will tackle recruitment bottlenecks, welfare safeguards and pathways to permanent residency—issues that have grown as PALM numbers surpassed 40,000 in FY 2024-25.
![Pacific Labour Mobility Annual Meeting Opens in Honiara With Visa-Waiver for Delegates]()
Australian agribusinesses, hospitality chains and aged-care providers—many of whom struggle to fill regional jobs—sent HR teams to Honiara to pre-screen candidates and lobby for faster processing times. Union representatives are also attending virtually to ensure that expanded intakes do not dilute workplace standards.
The meeting will culminate on 6 November with a Labour Mobility Dialogue that is expected to endorse a pilot skills-training levy funded jointly by employers and the Australian government, aimed at boosting qualifications recognised both in Australia and in sending countries.
Practical takeaway: approved PALM employers should watch for updated recruitment guidelines and an anticipated requirement to provide guaranteed minimum hours to seasonal workers.
Day 2 of the forum focuses on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which allows Australian businesses to hire Pacific workers for up to four years. Sessions will tackle recruitment bottlenecks, welfare safeguards and pathways to permanent residency—issues that have grown as PALM numbers surpassed 40,000 in FY 2024-25.
Australian agribusinesses, hospitality chains and aged-care providers—many of whom struggle to fill regional jobs—sent HR teams to Honiara to pre-screen candidates and lobby for faster processing times. Union representatives are also attending virtually to ensure that expanded intakes do not dilute workplace standards.
The meeting will culminate on 6 November with a Labour Mobility Dialogue that is expected to endorse a pilot skills-training levy funded jointly by employers and the Australian government, aimed at boosting qualifications recognised both in Australia and in sending countries.
Practical takeaway: approved PALM employers should watch for updated recruitment guidelines and an anticipated requirement to provide guaranteed minimum hours to seasonal workers.
