Pacific labour mobility
An Australian Government initiative that connects workers with rural and regional Australian businesses and supports the economic prosperity of 9 Pacific islands and Timor-Leste.
Which countries are involved?Coronavirus: Health and travel advice
Coronavirus, or COVID-19, is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. To protect yourself against infection, you should wash your hands regularly, cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and avoid close contact with others.
People who have coronavirus may have a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath. If you think you have the virus, first call your doctor or a medical clinic.
For the latest government health advice, please visit the Department of Health coronavirus web page, or for the latest travel advice, visit the Smartraveller website.
For more information, advice and resources about COVID-19 for Pacific labour mobility employers and workers, please visit our Pacific labour mobility coronavirus page.
Want to find out more about Pacific labour mobility?
For Australian employers in rural and regional areas, finding enough local workers to meet their needs can be a challenge.
The Australian Government has designed two initiatives to help businesses address chronic labour shortages, while also strengthening Australia’s links with Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste.
Seasonal Worker Programme
When there isn’t enough local labour available, employers in rural and regional areas of Australia can recruit unskilled workers from 9 Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste through the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) for up to 9 months.
Pacific Labour Scheme
Through the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS), Australian rural and regional employers looking for a longer-term labour solution can express their interest in recruiting low-skilled and semi-skilled workers from 9 Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste for between one and 3 years.
