New research led by UNICEF, in partnership with Western Sydney University and the University of the South Pacific, identifies the impact of the Pacific Labour Mobility scheme on children left behind in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
The study reveals that the Pacific countries in this study are already witnessing increased rates of family violence, marital breakdowns, child abuse and neglect in labour migration families, since the scheme's introduction in 2022.
While the scheme provides the Pacific and Timor-Leste workers the opportunity to earn an income in Australia, to support their families who remain back home, the findings indicate that further measures must be put in place to safeguard families.
Associate Professor Litea Meo-Sewabu, from Western Sydney University's School of Social Sciences, says the study highlights that while labour mobility schemes may be financially beneficial to a family, the funds often lead to tensions and family breakdowns due to insufficient support," said Associate Professor Litea Meo-Sewabu.
"When children have one or both parents migrate for work, they often experience emotional and behavioural issues such as strained relationships, academic decline, and a general feeling of sadness.
"It is important that faith-based organisations, counselling and psychological support is provided to children in migrant worker families."
While the scheme works to alleviate financial strain on Pacific families, the findings indicated instances where this strain is exacerbated by remittance gaps due to unreliable transfer methods and failure to comply with parental maintenance orders, in the case of separation.
The findings also reveal that the absence of male family members, due to migration, creates a shift in gender roles within communities which can leave an additional burden on women and the elderly, often resulting in young males being left without role models and guidance, with risks exacerbated through online exposure and increased access to drugs.
The study recommends:
- Pre-departure training and checks that include communication strategies, caregiving arrangements, and financial management for families left behind, as well as including extended family and caregivers in the trainings.
- Addressing remittance gaps by introducing more reliable transfer systems and establishing community-level monitoring to ensure families receive the intended financial support.
- Developing programs that focus on empowering women and providing skill development for additional caregivers, due to the absence of male family members.
- Social protection initiatives need to be made available in an agile manner to respond to family breakdown and in circumstances where caregivers do not receive adequate remittances.
- Parenting and financial literacy training should be made available to caregivers.
UNICEF Pacific's Representative, Jonathan Veitch said that while the Pacific Labour Mobility scheme is a beneficial initiative that uplifts the local economy and provides families the opportunity to invest, governments need to implement the recommendations of the study to ensure these benefits can be fully embraced.
"We need to urgently act on recommendations developed in partnership with Pacific Governments to ensure children and communities benefit from the positives of labour mobility whilst mitigating risks and responding to harm," said Mr Veitch.
Download 'An initial study: The impact of Pacific labour mobility schemes on children left behind in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu' here .
