A recently released report has highlighted the social and emotional effects of the Pacific labour mobility schemes on children left behind, among these “disruption to day-to-day lives, mental health issues, discipline issues and truancy.”
The report, titled The Impact of Pacific Labour Mobility Schemes on Children Left Behind in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu: An Initial Study focuses on the effects of labour mobility programmes such as the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employers (RSE) programme which enable Pacific Islanders to work overseas but leave children without their primary caregivers for extended periods.
Among its findings, the report found as a result of the “physical, communicative and emotional distance between children and their parents…children are having to care for other children, largely to supplement the care of adults, but there are also too many cases of children caring for children without regular adult support and supervision” alongside other significant challenges faced by caregivers and communities in the Pacific.
The report raises concerns about the educational outcomes for children, noting that many are missing school more frequently as they are required to take on household chores. The study warns that declining literacy and numeracy rates could have lasting effects if governments fail to address these issues. It also flags growing mental health challenges among children who are struggling to cope with the absence of their parents.
“Children’s literacy and numeracy levels are dropping, as their focus shifts from school to household duties,” the report states, recommending stronger policies to ensure children’s educational and emotional well-being.
Another major finding of the study is the shift in caregiving duties, with grandparents, older siblings, and extended family members often taking on parental roles. These caregivers frequently face challenges, including a lack of formal support systems, exacerbating the stress on families.
The report also found that the prolonged absence of male workers, in particular, has led to changes in gender roles, with women shouldering more traditionally male responsibilities.
While the economic benefits of remittances from labour mobility schemes are acknowledged, the report points out that the income is often used for short-term expenses rather than long-term investments. It also found growing economic inequalities, particularly in rural areas.
The report also highlights the rising cases of family breakdowns and extramarital affairs as a result of long-term separations. Concerns about the potential for a skills drain in key sectors such as education, healthcare, and law enforcement, particularly in Fiji, where the outflow of workers has been significant since 2014 were also highlighted.
With more than 6,000 Fijians currently working in Australia under the PALM scheme, the report calls for stronger support systems, including compulsory family-focused pre-departure orientations to better prepare workers and their families for the challenges of separation. It also urges greater investment in child protection services and calls for better engagement with churches and local organisations already providing community support.
Released this month, the report was co-authored by UNICEF, the University of the South Pacific (USP), and Western Sydney University.
