Are there FIFO workers in your country?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (386551)
Rockingham, Australia
August 19, 2026 11:14pm CST
Western Australia’s main industry is mining, most of which takes place in the inhospitable northern parts of the state. Any towns close to the mines are small and accommodation is at a premium. Mining companies get around the problem by putting in ‘dongas’ which are transportable units. There are onsite canteens which provide quality meals round the clock.
The workers are what we call FIFO workers, meaning ‘fly in fly out’. The arrangements vary. Some are one week on, one week off; others are two weeks on, two weeks off while others might be three weeks on, one week off. It depends on the individual contract and pay level. Some even fly in from other states.
While the money is good, there may be elevated mental health issues. It can be hard on wives too, left behind for 1-3 weeks with, maybe, several small children to care for. So I’m wondering if other countries have these FIFO arrangements.
The photo is mine of an abandoned hotel near a minesite which closed. There is still a lot of mining in the area.
8 people like this
9 responses
@rsa101 (41704)
• Philippines
11h
I’m not sure if there are jobs like that here, but we have what we call OFWs(Overseas Foreign Workers), where our citizens work abroad for several months or even years before returning home for a month’s vacation, then heading back overseas to work again for another extended period. It’s somewhat like the FIFO arrangement, but I think it’s quite different.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (386551)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Yes, of course. We have a great many of them coming to Australia. Our economy would be much worse off without them. Their stays are longer as they have further to go to get home.
@snowy22315 (211664)
• United States
4h
Not to my knowlege, but the nuclear facility here often has temporary wokers, but I tink they usually drive their cars ere
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (386551)
• Rockingham, Australia
2h
There are dozens of small planes ferrying workers to and fro from the mining areas.
@JudyEv (386551)
• Rockingham, Australia
7h
That's true. They probably need to make a few adjustments to make it work.
@teamfreak16 (45048)
• Denver, Colorado
11h
I'm not sure. I figured all of our miners here were full time. I think they even have a union.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (45048)
• Denver, Colorado
7h
@JudyEv - I know very little about it. I remember a big miners strike when I was young.
1 person likes this
@nawala123 (21322)
• Indonesia
12h
i know some people who works in offshore oil minin. they work in FIFO too
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