Labour mobility in the Pacific: creating seasonal work programs in Australia

The need to find jobs for Pacific Island workers coincides with the emergence of gaps in the labour force of developed nations. Nic Maclellan and Peter Mares outline a proposal for a pilot program of seasonal work for islanders in Australia’s horticulture industry. They discuss Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program as a model, and look at a range of issues – regulation, labour rights and social impacts – that would need to be resolved if seasonal work schemes are to function equitably