Mr Paul Kelly meets with Mrs Baykham Khattiya to inform her about the cancellation of the farm work visa scheme for Lao nationals.

Australia cancels agriculture visa scheme for Lao workers

The Australian government has cancelled a policy that allows people from 10 Southeast Asian countries including Laos to help Australian farmers harvest their crops under a farm work visa scheme.
The change in the policy was made by the new Australian government following the election two months ago.
The move has caused regret among many Lao nationals as they had been interested in working in Australia under the agriculture programme.
Australian Ambassador to Laos Mr Paul Kelly held a meeting with Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mrs Baykham Khattiya, on July 7 to inform her about the cancellation of the farm work visa scheme for Lao nationals and those from other Asean countries.
The two sides had earlier discussed the possibility of launching a pilot scheme to enable Lao nationals to work in Australia’s agriculture sector, according to the Lao News Agency.
The scrapping of the farm work visa scheme means people from Laos, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam will be no longer offered an opportunity to work on Australian farms.
Australia’s new government has cancelled the scheme as it shifts its focus to Pacific nations as potential sources of workers to help farmers address worker shortages and better Australia’s relationship in the Pacific.
The Labor government aims to enhance the Pacific Islands Labour Mobility Scheme as part of a new strategy in the Pacific region.
During her talks with the Australian Ambassador, Mrs Baykham expressed regret over the cancellation of the visa scheme.
She told the Ambassador that when news concerning the farm work visa scheme was publicised in Laos, many people were enthusiastic about the possibility of work in Australia.
The minister said she understood the reason for the policy change under Australia’s new government and hoped that Laos and Australia could cooperate in other ways to help Lao people find work in Australia.
The Lao government is keen to send people to work in Australia so they can gain experience and become more knowledgeable about farming methods as well as augment their income for the benefit of their families.
Australia and Laos have yet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the provision of work for Lao nationals in Australian agriculture, with the scheme only being discussed in initial talks.
Some companies are advertising services to process the documents needed for Lao nationals to work in Australia, according to the Lao News Agency.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has warned people intending to find work in Australia to scrutinise any information they are given so they don’t fall into illegal employment.

By Somsack Pongkhao
 (Latest Update July 17, 2022)