Super Power the Pacific

All workers who come to Australia deserve the same dignity in retirement as Australians.

But PALM workers on our farms, and in our abattoirs and aged care facilities, who already face exploitation and abuse, are routinely let down by the settings of Superannuation for migrant workers.

This is not a fair go. PALM workers, like all workers, deserve an accessible and transparent system that allows them to claim what is rightfully theirs.

Join our campaign, and sign our petition today!

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Pacific Islander workers come to Australia to contribute to our economy and they earn Superannuation while they work, but it is hard for them to access and is taxed at an very high rate.

Current administrative processes and tax laws make it difficult for these workers to claim the savings they’ve earned. PALM workers are required to complete extensive paperwork, provide certified identity documents, and hold an Australian bank account to claim their super when they return home.

For workers outside Australia, these requirements are often impossible to meet, leading to delays and, in many cases, the forfeiture of their savings.

AWU Members are calling on the Commonwealth to:

✅ Streamline the super claims process: Allow PALM workers to nominate a bank account in their home country for super payments upon their departure, eliminating complex paperwork and delays.

✅ Eliminate unfair taxation: Remove the 35%+ tax on Departing Australia Superannuation Payments (DASP), giving PALM workers access to more of their hard-earned savings.

✅ Improve portability of super funds: Expand options for PALM workers to transfer their superannuation into retirement funds in their home countries, ensuring financial security and reducing fees.

✅ Establish default super funds: Designate, in the PALM Deed and Guidelines, trusted funds like AustralianSuper as default options for PALM workers to ensure they are enrolled in funds that support their financial well-being.

It’s about time Australia repays the hard work with a dignified retirement for PALM Workers.

Click here to read the full report!