Maximizing the development impacts from temporary migration : recommendations for Australia’s seasonal worker programme (English)

The Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) was formally introduced in 2012 following a four-year pilot scheme. The SWP maintains the dual objectives of: (i) contributing to the economic development of nine participating Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste... See More + The Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) was formally introduced in 2012 following a four-year pilot scheme. The SWP maintains the dual objectives of: (i) contributing to the economic development of nine participating Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste; and (ii) filling labor shortages in the Australian agriculture, accommodation (in selected locations) and tourism sectors (the Northern Australia tourism pilot). This paper assesses the first of these objectives, evaluating the impact of the SWP on workers, their households, and communities. In doing so, it aims to build on the evidence already collected on the development impacts of the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme (PSWPS) (Gibson and McKenzie 2011) and shed further light on how the programme can be improved to increase the benefits flowing through to the Pacific  See Less -