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Bruneians Have Turned to Illegal Farm Work in Australia

Limited domestic job opportunities have driven youth to bypass visa rules for higher seasonal wages.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Employment

Isometric editorial illustration of a simple wooden crate in a field, representing agricultural labor trends.
Rising youth unemployment in Brunei is driving a growing number of citizens to seek illegal seasonal agricultural work in Australia using tourist visas. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Unemployed youth from Brunei are increasingly using Australian tourist visas to work illegally as fruit pickers. This trend persists as the country's youth unemployment rate remains elevated at 18.4 percent.

Why it matters

Domestic economic growth in Brunei is hindered by the hydrocarbon sector's dominance, leaving few options for young workers. This has created a labor outflow as individuals seek higher hourly wages in Australian agriculture.

The 2025 Labor Force Survey reported 11,800 unemployed people in Brunei, where the median monthly income fell to BN$950. While Bruneian minimum wage is BN$2.62 per hour, illegal fruit picking in Australia offers A$30-A$50 per hour.

The players

Australian High Commission

The diplomatic mission representing Australia's government and enforcing visa compliance standards in Brunei.

The details

Bruneians are entering Australia on A$20 Electronic Travel Authority visas that explicitly prohibit employment. Because Brunei is not a partner in the Australian Working Holiday Maker scheme, these workers operate outside the legal framework for seasonal labor. The Australian High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan has warned that utilizing tourist visas for income-generating activities is illegal and carries significant immigration risks.

Timeline

  1. 2022: Universiti Brunei Darussalam published an unemployment study.

  2. 2024: Brunei recorded an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent.

  3. 2025: Total unemployment rose to 5.1 percent.

  4. July 2026: The 2025 Labor Force Survey was officially published.

  5. October 2026: The report on illegal labor migration was published.

Market Landscape

The economic imbalance in Brunei is a classic demonstration of the Dutch Disease, where a dominant resource sector creates structural barriers for other industries. This concentration limits domestic workforce absorption and forces labor into informal, cross-border channels.

Operators in sectors sensitive to labor migration should monitor visa enforcement and international diplomatic relations between Australia and Brunei. Businesses relying on seasonal foreign labor must ensure full compliance with work-permit regulations to avoid cross-border enforcement scrutiny.

The takeaway

The gap between domestic wages and higher-paying foreign seasonal labor continues to incentivize illegal migration. Business owners should track the 2025 Labor Force Survey data to understand how shifting employment statistics impact regional labor availability.

Further reading

For broader trends, see our Employment section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Diplomat Magazine.

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Is taking the risk of illegal work abroad justified if it significantly increases your income?