DILI, 20 september 2022 ( TATOLI) -Timor-Leste’s Ambassador to Australia, Ines Almeida said this year Australia plans to increase the number of migrants, saying the Australian Government would offer workers from Pacific Islands including Timor-Leste the opportunity to apply for a Pacific engagement visa to become permanent residents in Australia.
“Australia will accept 3,000 immigrants from the Pacific Islands including Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea Nauru, Tongo, Salomon Island including Timor – Leste to become permanent residents in Australia, but this plan is in the process of being discussed,” Ambassador Almeida told the media after meeting with Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak in Farol, Dili on Tuesday.
According to Ambassador, these 3000 will not only refer to Timorese workers but also all workers from the Pacific Islands.
“The Australian Department of Immigration will accept all application forms submitted to their office, however, migrant applications will be a lottery, and those whose documents are lottery will be accepted to apply for a pacific engagement visa,” said Almeida.
Another issue discussed by Ambassador Almeida and PM was the changes of the Seasonal Work Program (SWP) to Australia Pacific Labor Mobility (PALM), Almeida, said Australia had changed the Seasonal Work Program (SWP) scheme to Australia Pacific Labor Mobility (PALM), saying this was to offer Timorese the opportunity to work for nine months in Australia.
“Once a worker is approved to participate in the PALM scheme, the employer will recruit workers to fill unskilled, low- or semi-skilled positions for seasonal placements of up to nine months or long-term placements between one and four years in Australia,”said Ambassador.
According to Ambassador Almeida, this PALM scheme will help Timorese workers who will have the opportunity to take courses such as mechanics, and other courses to support their skills in securing a future in Australia and implementing it in Timor-Leste in the future.
“To join this program, it is important for Timorese workers to prepare their English language skills, to access information from PALM including all valid visas to ensure your life in Australia,”
Since the implementation of the Seasonal Worker Program in 2011-2022, the Government of Timor-Leste has sent more than 5,290 young Timorese workers to work in Australia. Of the total number of workers, SEPFOPE has recorded the combined wage income of these workers as $14 million back home.
Journalist: Camilo de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
