Pacific workers scheme failing growers, workers

[Stacey King]

Helene Hofman - RADIO AUSTRALIA NEWS Last Updated: 3 hours 15 minutes ago

Of 100 temporary employment visas offered by Australia to workers from Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu last year, just 56 were filled. [ABC]

Australia's Pacific seasonal workers scheme may be struggling to get off the ground, two years in a row.
The scheme, first started in 2008, was intended to help Australian growers fill labour gaps by inviting Pacific Islanders to take up seasonal work.

After months of negotiations, Australia finalised agreements with Kiribati, Vanuatu and Tonga in December last year.

But, it came too late for many of the country's growers - the season was well underway, the growers looked elsewhere for workers and of the 100 visas made available for Pacific workers, just 56 were filled.

It was hoped that many of those delays could be avoided this year to allow more growers, and Pacific Islanders, to take advantage of the 2,400 visas now available as part of phase two of the pilot.

But Paul Kiley, the resources manager with All Recruiting Services -- one of the three government approved labor hire companies -- has told Radio Australia so far that hasn't been the case, despite negotiations with growers.

"We've been looking since August-September and would have liked to have workers in the fields now but none of the workers have agreed to our rates," he said.

The cost of hiring a Pacific Islander is one of the reasons growers say they've been reluctant to take part in the pilot.

As the employer, they're required to pay half the return airfare -- about $AU800 -- plus an additional $100 in transport costs.

Once the Pacific Island worker is in the field, they cost one dollar more an hour than the legal rate for local workers to cover the cost of administration.

The additional cost seemed more reasonable two years ago when growers were facing a serious labour shortage.

But that situation has now changed.

Kris Newton, the chief executive of the Horticulture Australia Council, says there's been a decrease in demand for labour, mainly because of the global financial crisis, and there are more travellers keen for work in Australia.

"So demand has remained high but supply is also high and is quite reliable. We were certainly thinking when the 800 initial visas were announced that it wasn't enough. In retrospect it was probably about right and we'll struggle to fill that this year," he said.


Over supply

However, Paul Kiley says it's there's more to the fall off in demand for Pacific Islanders than the global recession or even this year's drought.

"There are people on working holiday visas that are working more than holidaying, there are people on student visas working 40 hours and there are people on visitors visas working who shouldn't be and those people get paid well and truly below the awarded wait of pay," Mr Kiley said.

The Australian government has been holding regular meetings with labour hire firms, and says its committed to getting the pilot off the ground.

A spokeswoman from the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations confirmed that they have just issued a fresh request for expression of interest for growers.

Meanwhile, the three Pacific countries signed up to participate in the pilot say they have not yet been approached for workers this year.

Vanuatu's Labour Commissioner, Lionel Kaluat, says its unfortunate but says they were aware of the terms of the scheme.

"It's disappointing but... it's a market driven scheme," he said.