PACIFIC ISLAND SEASONAL WORKERS PROGRAM ACHIEVES PERMANENCY
Posted in Media on Monday, 19 December, 2011
The announcement that the Seasonal Workers Program for the Pacific Region and East Timor will become permanent from July 2012 has been welcomed by Federal Member for Mallee, John Forrest
“The announcement made yesterday recognises the success of the Pacific Seasonal Workers Pilot Program, and the important role it has played in meeting the seasonal harvest needs of the horticulture industry,” Mr Forrest said
“This Program provides benefits to both farmers and employees – providing a workforce to meet the huge labour shortages in horticulture, while also providing new training and skills to employees from overseas, so that they can then take those skills back home.
“It is vitally important to Australia’s fruit growers, with some 22,000 fruit picking jobs left unfilled each year, costing growers around $100,000 per crop per year in rotting fruit,” Mr Forrest said.
Farmers will be required to demonstrate that they cannot find enough local labour to meet the harvest requirements, must show their commitment to meeting Australian work standards and make a contribution to the worker’s travel costs.