Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme is a new Australia Labour Mobility Program for Pacific and Timor-Leste, established by the Australian Government in 2022.

This scheme combined the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP), and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS), from Timor-Leste into a large program to allow eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from 9 Pacific islands and Timor-Leste, when there are not enough local workers available.

Through this scheme,  eligible businesses can recruit workers for seasonal jobs for up to 9 months or for longer-term roles for between one and 4 years in low-skilled, and semi-skilled positions.

How PALM is manage in Timor-Leste?

PALM in Timor-Leste is managed by the  Labour Sending Unit(LSU) of the National Directorate for Overseas Employment (DNEE) under the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment, SEFOPE.

SEFOPE-LSU is also supported by the Australia’s regional program, PLMSP. To ensure AE demand is met, SEFOPE also has an Australia team, called LAT team composes of five members, one attaché, 3 assistant attaché and a welfare officer.

Why Employers recruit from Timor-Leste?

TL workers has a strong record in PALM scheme placing in agriculture, fisheries, horticulture, hospitality, meat processing, age care and other sectors.

TL has very good reputation for being hard work, willing to learn, friendly, trustworthy, reliable and respectful. LSU is good at meeting AE needs on timely manner.

TL-LSU has rigorous English selection process to enter the semi-skilled work ready pool. SEFOPE has a pool reliable, productive, and trustworthy Timorese representing their municipalities in
the pool.

TL -LSU -LSU offers industry specific workshop for new workers delivered by former PALM workers. TL offers two and a half days mandatory predeparture briefing mobilization.

TL offers opportunity for employers to information sessions and or other training to ensure the workers have prior knowledge of employer and working conditions prior to mobilization.

SEFOPE has strong partnership with TVET centers where employer can choose from to deliver the training.

How can Employers recruit workers from Timor-Leste?

Apply to DEWR in Australia to become approved employer.

DEWR will assess and approve you to become one of the PALM AE.

Once approved/approved employer submit your recruitment plan (8 weeks) to DEWR and specify TL as your preferred country of recruitment.

DEWR will approve or reject your recruitment within three weeks. LSU will approve or reject your recruitment in 48 hours.

Flexible recruitment mechanisms but prefer to recruit in country to built strong relationship with the country and workers.

For further information on the programme, please visit:

 PALM scheme