By Rex Alex
The labor schemes promoted by Australia and New Zealand offer a solution to the conflicts faced by Environmental Refugees. For example, New Zealand and Australia have opened seasonal workers programs for Pacific Islanders. Australia has also opened nursing programs through the Kiribati Australia Nursing Initiative and invested in the Kiribati Institute of Technology in which students will be educated with Australian standards. Such programs offer the chance for eventual permanent settlement and social mobility for Pacific Islanders. While such opportunities can be helpful, they also come with the risk of labor exploitation, particularly for seasonal fruit picking workers. Another concern with these programs is how they are operated exclusively within the standards of the country which funds them. This can cause the Pacific Island nations to lose sovereignty and the Indigenous people of these islands may lose their culture and knowledge regarding the land. Furthermore these programs are critiqued for disproportionately benefiting young, educated and upper-class Kiribati, who are only a small percentage.
Klepp, Silja, and Johannes Herbeck. “The Politics of Environmental Migration and Climate Justice in the Pacific Region.” Journal of Human Rights and the Environment, vol. 7, no. 1, Mar. 2016, pp. 54–73, 10.4337/jhre.2016.01.03. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Silja-Klepp-2/publication/299575803_The_politics_of_environmental_migration_and_climate_justice_in_the_Pacific_region/links/5852859708aef7d030a4eaa9/The-politics-of-environmental-migration-and-climate-justice-in-the-Pacific-region.pdf
