Members of our union on the PALM scheme got organised and united and were able to end unstable working arrangements, winning guaranteed minimum hours and pay for 25,000 migrant farm workers in 2023.
Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme workers organised and fought their way to win guaranteed minimum hours and pay each week. This grassroots campaign, driven by our members, secured a minimum of 30 hours guaranteed each week they are working on Farms and in other industries in Australia.
PALM workers had endured years of unstable hours that left many unable to cover basic costs or support families back home. Trapped by restrictive visas, many fell into debt just covering housing and transport. Through sustained pressure and strategic campaigning, workers forced the government to guarantee stable hours and minimum pay.
This breakthrough affects 25,000 PALM workers nationwide and shows how determined organising can rewrite the rules to protect migrant workers’ rights.