Grain producer Viterra plans to hire 1800 more workers for a promising season
Despite drought, fires and frost, SA’s grain harvest is looking highly promising – and its primary handler Viterra is putting on hundreds more workers than normal to manage it.
SA Business
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South Australia’s major grain handler, Viterra, is looking for up to 1800 workers to help bring in this season’s grain from across SA and western Victoria.
The jobs bonanza means the company is looking to put on an extra 300 workers than normal for this year’s harvest due to the season’s positive outlook.
Despite the drought, bushfires and frost, the 2019-20 harvest was 6.5 million tonnes and with this year’s promising opening rains a larger harvest is predicted in 2020-21.
Viterra human resources manager Alyson Gilbey said the company was excited to be able to offer more job opportunities this year and help boost employment in regional communities during such a difficult time.
She said harvest workers played a critical role in the Viterra business during one of its busiest times of the year.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for people looking for a job,” she said. “Anyone can apply. All our harvest roles are provided with complete training so no previous experience is necessary.”
Applications are now open for workers at 55 Viterra sites, including in the South-East and Yorke Peninsula, with a range of seasonal roles available from October until January next year.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone said the upcoming grain harvest season provided a great opportunity for those looking for work.
“With border restrictions still in place to protect South Australians from coronavirus, there has been a reduction in international and interstate travellers who normally take up seasonal jobs,” he said.
Mr Whetstone said the seasonaljobs.sa.gov.au website has had more than 80,000 visitors since it launched in May.