Latest news with #PALM
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Women choosing abortions to keep work visas, slavery inquiry told
An obstetrician has told a parliamentary inquiry that hundreds of migrant women seek abortions with her each year to avoid breaching their visa conditions. Dr Trudi Beck, a GP based in NSW Riverina city of Wagga Wagga, told the inquiry an "unseen population" of migrant women was seeking abortions they would not normally want. "We're providing services to 500 to 600 pregnant women per year," Dr Beck said. The NSW inquiry into the risk of slavery for temporary migrant workers held its first regional hearing in Griffith on Thursday. The inquiry is investigating the experiences of migrant workers in agriculture, horticulture and meat processing sectors in rural and regional NSW. Dr Beck said that the women's stories were "basically the same" every time. "They know that they will breach their visa requirements to be able to work, either because they're in a physical job, in the kinds of positions that they often are working," she said. One area of focus of the inquiry is the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, which aims to fill labour gaps by recruiting workers from nine Pacific islands and Timor-Leste. Dr Beck said the unwanted abortion situation amounted to a form of modern slavery for the women. "If this woman were in her home country and had the means to live above the poverty line, she would have this baby," Dr Beck told the hearing. Dr Beck said she had personally approached employers with a large number of PALM workers, asking for their assistance in educating and providing reproductive healthcare for women. The hearing was also told about some of the substandard living conditions migrant workers faced. Paul Maytom, a former mayor of Leeton Shire Council and the chair of Leeton Multicultural Support Group, described some of the living arrangements he had witnessed. "I have seen situations with people camped in backyards, or with a few bricks and a bit of iron at the top and a fire going to boil water, he said. Mr Maytom said migrants who were not used to the living standard most Australians considered adequate may consider these living conditions "acceptable", but reporting substandard living arrangements could leave people homeless. "Any accommodation is better than no accommodation," he said. The need for better regulation of labour hire companies has been a theme in submissions from groups such as Berries Australia and the Fresh Produce Alliance, as well as legal services representing workers, academics, and the NSW and Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioners. The Albanese government committed to establishing a national labour hire licensing framework in 2023. However, despite initial support from the states and territories, an agreement on the regulation hasn't been reached. Berries Australia stated in a written submission that, while it would prefer a national scheme, New South Wales needed to act to curtail the activities of "dodgy labour hire companies". "NSW has become an attractive destination for dodgy labour hire companies who are often linked to organised crime," the submission said.. "We are also aware of allegations that a small percentage of growers who work with these labour hire firms deliberately underpay their workers. "We are keen to see this practice stamped out as it damages the reputation of the industry and distorts pricing." Committee chairperson, Wagga Wagga MP Joe McGirr, said he had written to Attorney-General Michael Davey asking for the government to regulate the labour hire sector to prevent worker exploitation. "The evidence we've received is that shonky operators have left Queensland and Victoria and are operating in NSW," he said. "We don't think this can wait until we finish the inquiry at the end of this year."
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Vulnerable migrants having abortions due to visa fears
Migrant women working in rural Australia are carrying unplanned pregnancies, having unwanted abortions or even giving their babies to authorities due to fear, poverty and poor healthcare coverage. This is the "unseen population" that NSW general practitioner Trudi Beck wants every Australian to know about. Dr Beck, a GP obstetrician from Wagga Wagga, told a NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery that she routinely sees pregnant Pacific Islander workers, who are not entitled to free or subsidised healthcare in Australia. The vast majority of those women opted for an abortion, though it didn't always appear to be their preference, Dr Beck said. The women, who are usually working under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, fear they will breach their visa conditions if they cannot work due to pregnancy. "I find it really difficult to provide termination services for a woman where that's not her deeply-held desire ... that's the crux of the matter for me," Dr Beck told the inquiry sitting in Griffith on Thursday, in sometimes emotional evidence. "If this woman was in her home country and had the means to live above the poverty line, she would have this baby. "That is just such an ethics and values clash for me and that's what makes me want to reach out to people to say: can we make this better?" Some women who could not access abortion services in time gave birth in their home countries while on annual leave, Dr Beck said. The inquiry has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers, forcing some to abscond. Many disengaged workers have settled in the NSW Riverina, where they live in hiding, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom said. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrants have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her prematurely-born baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom said. "That's tough." Griffith domestic violence service Links For Women supported 47 female PALM workers in 2023-24. The women were assaulted by either male employers or their co-workers, forcing them to flee, manager Madeleine Rossiter said. It's estimated more than 40,000 people are enslaved across the nation, subject to violence, threats, punishing hours, low pay, poor housing and restricted movements. More than 16,000 are believed to be trapped in modern slavery in NSW, one of the few states that does not regulate the hire companies central to migrant recruitment. The inquiry continues. Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66) Migrant women working in rural Australia are carrying unplanned pregnancies, having unwanted abortions or even giving their babies to authorities due to fear, poverty and poor healthcare coverage. This is the "unseen population" that NSW general practitioner Trudi Beck wants every Australian to know about. Dr Beck, a GP obstetrician from Wagga Wagga, told a NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery that she routinely sees pregnant Pacific Islander workers, who are not entitled to free or subsidised healthcare in Australia. The vast majority of those women opted for an abortion, though it didn't always appear to be their preference, Dr Beck said. The women, who are usually working under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, fear they will breach their visa conditions if they cannot work due to pregnancy. "I find it really difficult to provide termination services for a woman where that's not her deeply-held desire ... that's the crux of the matter for me," Dr Beck told the inquiry sitting in Griffith on Thursday, in sometimes emotional evidence. "If this woman was in her home country and had the means to live above the poverty line, she would have this baby. "That is just such an ethics and values clash for me and that's what makes me want to reach out to people to say: can we make this better?" Some women who could not access abortion services in time gave birth in their home countries while on annual leave, Dr Beck said. The inquiry has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers, forcing some to abscond. Many disengaged workers have settled in the NSW Riverina, where they live in hiding, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom said. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrants have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her prematurely-born baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom said. "That's tough." Griffith domestic violence service Links For Women supported 47 female PALM workers in 2023-24. The women were assaulted by either male employers or their co-workers, forcing them to flee, manager Madeleine Rossiter said. It's estimated more than 40,000 people are enslaved across the nation, subject to violence, threats, punishing hours, low pay, poor housing and restricted movements. More than 16,000 are believed to be trapped in modern slavery in NSW, one of the few states that does not regulate the hire companies central to migrant recruitment. The inquiry continues. Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66) Migrant women working in rural Australia are carrying unplanned pregnancies, having unwanted abortions or even giving their babies to authorities due to fear, poverty and poor healthcare coverage. This is the "unseen population" that NSW general practitioner Trudi Beck wants every Australian to know about. Dr Beck, a GP obstetrician from Wagga Wagga, told a NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery that she routinely sees pregnant Pacific Islander workers, who are not entitled to free or subsidised healthcare in Australia. The vast majority of those women opted for an abortion, though it didn't always appear to be their preference, Dr Beck said. The women, who are usually working under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, fear they will breach their visa conditions if they cannot work due to pregnancy. "I find it really difficult to provide termination services for a woman where that's not her deeply-held desire ... that's the crux of the matter for me," Dr Beck told the inquiry sitting in Griffith on Thursday, in sometimes emotional evidence. "If this woman was in her home country and had the means to live above the poverty line, she would have this baby. "That is just such an ethics and values clash for me and that's what makes me want to reach out to people to say: can we make this better?" Some women who could not access abortion services in time gave birth in their home countries while on annual leave, Dr Beck said. The inquiry has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers, forcing some to abscond. Many disengaged workers have settled in the NSW Riverina, where they live in hiding, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom said. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrants have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her prematurely-born baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom said. "That's tough." Griffith domestic violence service Links For Women supported 47 female PALM workers in 2023-24. The women were assaulted by either male employers or their co-workers, forcing them to flee, manager Madeleine Rossiter said. It's estimated more than 40,000 people are enslaved across the nation, subject to violence, threats, punishing hours, low pay, poor housing and restricted movements. More than 16,000 are believed to be trapped in modern slavery in NSW, one of the few states that does not regulate the hire companies central to migrant recruitment. The inquiry continues. Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66) Migrant women working in rural Australia are carrying unplanned pregnancies, having unwanted abortions or even giving their babies to authorities due to fear, poverty and poor healthcare coverage. This is the "unseen population" that NSW general practitioner Trudi Beck wants every Australian to know about. Dr Beck, a GP obstetrician from Wagga Wagga, told a NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery that she routinely sees pregnant Pacific Islander workers, who are not entitled to free or subsidised healthcare in Australia. The vast majority of those women opted for an abortion, though it didn't always appear to be their preference, Dr Beck said. The women, who are usually working under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, fear they will breach their visa conditions if they cannot work due to pregnancy. "I find it really difficult to provide termination services for a woman where that's not her deeply-held desire ... that's the crux of the matter for me," Dr Beck told the inquiry sitting in Griffith on Thursday, in sometimes emotional evidence. "If this woman was in her home country and had the means to live above the poverty line, she would have this baby. "That is just such an ethics and values clash for me and that's what makes me want to reach out to people to say: can we make this better?" Some women who could not access abortion services in time gave birth in their home countries while on annual leave, Dr Beck said. The inquiry has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers, forcing some to abscond. Many disengaged workers have settled in the NSW Riverina, where they live in hiding, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom said. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrants have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her prematurely-born baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom said. "That's tough." Griffith domestic violence service Links For Women supported 47 female PALM workers in 2023-24. The women were assaulted by either male employers or their co-workers, forcing them to flee, manager Madeleine Rossiter said. It's estimated more than 40,000 people are enslaved across the nation, subject to violence, threats, punishing hours, low pay, poor housing and restricted movements. More than 16,000 are believed to be trapped in modern slavery in NSW, one of the few states that does not regulate the hire companies central to migrant recruitment. The inquiry continues. Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66)
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Vulnerable pregnant women among adrift migrant workers
A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation. It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers. Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith. "That's tough." Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches. "We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said. "They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities." Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly. Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions. The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers. NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions. Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws. "Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said. "The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community." Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66) A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation. It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers. Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith. "That's tough." Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches. "We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said. "They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities." Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly. Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions. The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers. NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions. Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws. "Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said. "The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community." Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66) A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation. It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers. Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith. "That's tough." Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches. "We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said. "They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities." Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly. Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions. The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers. NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions. Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws. "Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said. "The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community." Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66) A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation. It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers. Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith. "That's tough." Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches. "We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said. "They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities." Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly. Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions. The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers. NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions. Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws. "Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said. "The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community." Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66)
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Vulnerable pregnant women among adrift migrant workers
A migrant worker handed her newborn baby to authorities because she was not covered by Australian healthcare, had no support network, no money and feared deportation. It is one of many "distressing" stories of vulnerable temporary migrants who are adrift in the NSW Riverina, including many who have become disengaged from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. A NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery risks faced by migrant workers in rural areas has been told PALM workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because their visa does not allow them to change employers. Some Pacific workers abscond from the scheme and go into hiding as undocumented workers in the fruit-growing region, Leeton Multicultural Support Group chairman Paul Maytom told the inquiry on Thursday. Mr Maytom said 10 pregnant migrant workers have approached the organisation for help, including one woman who gave her premature baby to authorities after her older child was also taken in as a ward of the state. "She said, 'I didn't know what to do because I have no money, so I agreed to it, but I want my babies back', Mr Maytom told the inquiry sitting in Griffith. "That's tough." Eight workers approached the support organisation about two years ago after escaping an employer in Far North Queensland, where they were packing mangoes for up to 18 hours a day in 35-day stretches. "We sit there, we listen to that and we really don't know where to go to because they're disengaged workers," Mr Maytom said. "They've been forced out of the system, they don't know where to go and, in many cases, they're hiding ... from the authorities." Mr Maytom, who is the former mayor of the Leeton Shire, said he was not aware of local employers who were treating workers poorly. Many disengaged workers arrive in agricultural regions like Leeton and Shepparton and Mildura, in Victoria, because they've heard of better working conditions. The inquiry has been told labour hire companies are often bad actors in temporary migrant recruitment, with some forcing workers into debt bondage and failing to pass on wages paid by farmers. NSW is one of the few states that does not regulate the labour hire sector, which can attract dodgy operators ousted from other jurisdictions. Ken Dachi, a co-ordinator with migrant support organisation Welcoming Australia, said the PALM scheme could have significant benefits for workers and regional communities, but there were major flaws. "Vulnerabilities caused by disengagement from the PALM scheme poses the greatest threat to our efforts of fostering social cohesion in the Riverina," Mr Dachi said. "The triggers for PALM disengagement are numerous ... (there are) heart-wrenching stories of suffering and pain experienced by disengaged PALM workers who are part of our community." Reports of modern slavery can be made to 1800 FREEDOM (1800 37 333 66)
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Many millions' in unclaimed super for Pacific workers
Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said. Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said. Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said. Pacific workers are being urged to chase up "many millions" in lost superannuation from their stints in Australia, with that problem also leading to calls for reform. Difficulties navigating Australia's complex tax system, particularly for foreigners, mean Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers often leave their hard-earned super languishing. During a nine-month stint in Australia at the guaranteed base wage levels, PALM workers typically accumulate around $3,800 in pre-tax superannuation. Like other guest workers, PALM workers can apply to access those funds once they've left the country, but most either do not - or can not. "PALM workers are collectively leaving many millions of dollars in superannuation unclaimed," Robert Whait, University of South Australia senior lecturer told AAP. The PALM scheme has expanded in recent years to average around 30,000 workers from 10 Pacific nations in Australia at any one time, doing jobs that employers cannot fill. Industries includes agriculture and food processing, but also aged care, hospitality, tourism, and even a pilot in early childhood education. Dr Whait manages the UniSA tax clinic, which offers advice "to help vulnerable Australians with their taxes", and on the foreign affairs department's suggestion, widened to take in PALM workers. "PALM workers have the same rights we do ... but the main issue is that under the current law, they can only access that superannuation when they leave Australia and their visa is canceled," he said. "Either they're not aware of it, or the process to put in the forms is difficult because of various barriers, so lots of money is left unclaimed which they could be taking home with them to use, directly with their families and helping out their lives." Barriers include the unavailability of key forms in languages other than English, the reliance on internet and computer access, and verification. PALM workers also get slugged with extra taxes that effectively claw back half of their earnings: the 15 per cent tax on contributions and a 35 per cent "departing Australia superannuation payment" tax. The messy situation has led Dr Whait, with Connie Vitale from Western Sydney University, to author a paper looking at policy reforms, especially given super primarily exists to fund the retirement of Australian workers. Options canvassed include adding super into their take-home pay (as occurs in New Zealand) or sending it to a super fund in the worker's home country, either as they earn, or when they head home. Dr Whait believes the latter options would better serve the primary of purpose of super - to assist workers in retirement - and allow Pacific super funds greater pools of funding to invest at home. "The money from PALM superannuation could be used to help infrastructure in their countries and help their communities, so that was probably the tipping point in in recommending that approach," he said.
