A Fijian worker in Australia has become the first person to receive a major insurance payout under a new scheme designed to support Pacific labourers, after a small weekly decision transformed into a life-changing safeguard for his family.
Mosese Soqeta Saresarevata, who arrived in Victoria in June to work in the meat-processing industry, quietly opted into a voluntary life insurance scheme costing just AUD $6 a week — less than the price of a coffee. The program was created specifically for PALM workers to provide support in cases of serious illness or death.
Shortly after enrolling, Saresarevata received devastating medical news. What first appeared treatable was later confirmed to be a terminal illness. As his health worsened, the decision he made in his early weeks in Australia became a vital safety net.
This week, the Ministry of Employment confirmed that Saresarevata has been granted an AUD $200,000 payout — the first-ever claim to be approved since the insurance initiative was launched in September after nearly two years of development. The payment ensures his family will not face financial hardship as he confronts the final stages of his illness.
Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Maritino Nemani, said Saresarevata’s choice reflects “courage, foresight and love,” noting that many workers spend more on unhealthy habits than on securing their family’s future.
“Mosese may never have imagined the impact of his decision, but today it sends a powerful message to every Fijian in the PALM scheme,” Nemani said. “For six dollars a week, he protected the people he cares about most even as he faced the greatest battle of his life. This is more than insurance — it is an act of love and responsibility.”
He urged other PALM workers to consider the long-term value of small sacrifices, saying even the smallest weekly contribution can one day create “a life-changing difference” for loved ones.
The payout was formally presented by Nemani and Regional Workforce Management CEO Brad Scagrott, marking a significant milestone in Fiji’s efforts to strengthen the welfare of its overseas workers.
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