Case Two

The PALM scheme is Australia's key program to address unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled labour shortages across rural and regional Australia. Under the scheme Australian businesses can hire workers from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available. Once approved to participate in the PALM scheme, employers can recruit workers to fill positions for seasonal (short-term) of up to nine months or longer-term placements of between one and four years. Seasonal and longer-term workers can be employed in any sectorand in all regional and rural postcodes, while all Australian businesses in the agriculture sector can participate in the scheme.

Discuss the socio economic benefits and challenges brought about by this Labor scheme and propose ways tis could be addressed [10 marks ]