Labour Mobility in the PACER Plus

Abstract

Since the commencement of the Pacific

Transformative mobilities in the Pacific: Promoting adaptation and development in a changing climate

“…Applied to the case of Pacific agricultural workers under the SWP in Australia, for example, transformative mobilities would ensure that human rights are maintained (e.g., via third‐party observers from labour organisations) and that workers are aware of their rights; skills, finance, and other resources acquired during the worker's time abroad contribute to development goals and climate change adaptation in sending communities and nations; family members are supported during workers' absence; and workers are meaningfully involved in problem definitions and solutions (Brickenstein, ; Curtain, Dornan, Doyle, & Howes, ; Hepworth & Maclellan, ; Joint Standing Committee on Migration, ; Kautoke‐Holani, ; Rohorua, Gibson, Mckenzie, & Martinez, ). This would entail, for example, going well beyond quantification of remittances as a measure of development, to include the skills and knowledge gained via the broad suite of human experiences of working in another country (e.g., language skills, business skills and entrepreneurial development, experience in cross‐cultural dialogue, and social ties formed) and heeding calls such as those by Union Aid Abroad to better integrate unions throughout the programme, especially during the predeparture process, so that Pacific Island workers are “aware of their workplace rights under Australian law and [are] given information on how to access their rights” (Hepworth & Maclellan, , p. 3).…”