Key Points
- Jose* and Pedro* are Timorese workers with lapsed passports who want to remain in Australia for work.
- To renew their passports, they would need to apply in Timor-Leste and would be unlikely to return to Australia due to the need for an employer sponsor.
- They are calling on their embassy to make it easier for them to renew passports, similar to arrangements with the UK, Ireland and South Korea.
Jose* arrived in Australia in 2019 under the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) and worked as a fruit picker in Victoria.
He lost his job when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, but moved to a Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) before securing alternative employment.
Due to border restrictions enforced to contain the threat of infection during the pandemic, Jose could not return to Timor-Leste to renew his passport, which eventually expired.
He is among an estimated 500 workers from Timor-Leste in Australia who are currently holding expired passports, which is stopping them from travelling back to their homeland.
Adding to the complexities, the only pathway for this cohort to renew their passports is to do so in Timor-Leste.
"I can't renew [my passport] because I can't travel. I can't send money to my family back home as I don't have valid identification," he told SBS Tetum.
"I'm scared I'll lose everything I've worked for."
Pedro* is facing similar difficulties, after arriving in Australia to work in early 2020, under the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS),
He transitioned to a Temporary Activity visa, and secured employment in the security sector, though an inability to renew his expired passport is "posing a threat" to his future in Australia.
Thousands of workers from Timor-Leste travel to Australia to pick fruit each year, sending part of their wages home in the form of remittances. Source: iStockphoto / crbellette/Getty Images
"My passport expired a few months ago, and with the opportunity provided by the Australian government for a [Pacific Engagement Visa], I would like to request that the relevant [Timorese] authority help us to be issued with our [new] passports in Australia," Pedro said.
"I cannot go home and I want to continue working to help my family back home."
Both men are calling on Timorese authorities to implement a scheme for this cohort to renew their passports in Australia, which is an arrangement currently in place for those working in the UK, Ireland and South Korea.
'This is not fair for the workers here'
Timor-Leste's ambassador to Australia Ines Almeida told SBS Tetum that renewing passports for workers in Australia had proven challenging due to several factors, including government changes and administrative delays in the country.
She said her country's embassy had been attempting to address this issue with the home government, but progress had been slow.
"I have tried a couple of times with the previous minister for justice and now with the current minister recently, but no progress [has been made] yet," Almeida said.
What I don’t understand is if the ministry could issue passports for Timorese living abroad in the UK, Ireland, and [South] Korea ... why not apply the same [scheme] in Australia? This is not fair for the workers here.Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia Ines Almeida
The embassy had provided temporary documentation to affected workers while awaiting a response from the ministry of justice in Timor-Leste, she confirmed.
Despite the challenges, Almeida said she remained optimistic about the future of labour cooperation between Timor-Leste and Australia.
She highlighted emerging opportunities in childcare and aged care which could provide more stable, long-term opportunities for Timorese workers.
Timor-Leste's ambassador to Australia Ines Almeida (left) being interviewed by SBS Tetum producer Cristina Freitas.
"It’s crucial to understand that in order to access these new sectors, our workers need to invest in their language abilities," Almeida said.
"They can’t just wait for the government to provide everything. Improving English language skills is a vital step that individuals must take to enhance their employability in Australia."
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Home Affairs told SBS Tetum: "Visa holders who wish to stay longer should explore their options before their visa expires, as there are limited options for applying for a new visa once one has already expired."
Individuals from Pacific nations with expired visas should contact the department to find appropriate options for a lawful stay or arrange departure, the spokesperson added.
Pacific Engagement Visa introduces a new opportunity
Introduced in February, the provides a pathway to permanent residency while enhancing regional workforce mobility and economic cooperation.
Citizens of Pacific countries aged 18-45 can apply under the scheme, but they need a job offer and a family sponsor to live in Australia.
The will offer up to 3,000 permanent residencies via a ballot system with 10 per cent or 300 of these open to people from Timor-Leste.
There are approximately 4,600 Timorese workers currently living and working in the country, under the SWP and PLS which are now under the umbrella of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
Timorese workers are currently working in every state and the Northern Territory in areas including agriculture, horticulture, tourism and factories.
Many Timorese people come to Australia to work on fruit and vegetable farms. Credit: wikimedia commons
The SWP was introduced in July 2012, recruiting unskilled and low-skilled workers for agriculture and accommodation sectors.
The PLS followed in July 2018, catering to low and semi-skilled workers for longer periods.
According to the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEPFOPE), more than 13,200 workers from Timor-Leste have moved to Australia for work since 2012, contributing over $76 million to their home country through money transfers home.
*Names changed to protect identity.
