Your job offer and contract

Seasonal Workers · Know your rights

Know what you agreed to before you leave home.

What you should get

• PALM (Australia): you have the same workplace rights and protections as Australian workers.
• RSE (New Zealand): your employer must give you a written contract that explains your pay, work hours, holiday pay, sick leave and work conditions. It must say your employer will pay at least 50% of your return airfare.
• PALM and RSE: you apply through your own country's labour sending unit. You do not need to pay or give gifts to anyone to join PALM.

Check for

• Employer name and the place you will work
• Hourly rate or piece rate, and how pay is worked out
• Minimum hours or minimum pay
• Every cost that will be taken from your pay (flights, visa, accommodation, transport, insurance)
• Start date and end date

What you can do

• Ask for the offer in writing and in your language — PALM publishes many guides in Pacific languages.
• Keep a copy at home with your family.

Sources: PALM scheme — Worker support · PALM scheme — Fiji country page (sending unit, no fees) · Immigration NZ — Your rights as an RSE worker

This card is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country. Information checked 2 October 2026. For help, see piowr.org/seasonal-workers and piowr.org/tools/find-help.

Pacific Institute of Workplace Relations · Fair Conditions At Work · piowr.org