Pacific workers provide farmers with a lifeline

Backpacker numbers are continuing to plummet. Fortunately the number of Pacific workers in the country is rising quickly.

PACIFIC workers are providing a lifeline to farmers as the number of backpackers drops to its lowest point since Australia closed its international borders.

As of the end of February this year, there were 21,639 workers in the country on seasonal worker program, Pacific labour scheme and subclass 408 pandemic event visas.

At the same time three years ago, prior to the pandemic and when backpackers provided a significant stream of farm labour, there were just 5350 seasonal worker program and 72 Pacific labour scheme visa holders in Australia.

It follows major recruitment drives by Australia, Pacific nations and East Timor to increase the size of their “work-ready” pool of workers to meet a commitment Prime Minister Scott Morrison made last year to double the number of Pacific workers on Australian farms by March to at least 25,000.

The number of backpackers in the country on working holiday maker visas has plummeted to just 18,579 as of the end of February, according to the Department of Home Affairs, compared with 119,266 in March 2020 when Australia closed its international border to contain Covid.

Even before Australia closed itself off to the world two years ago, the numbers of backpackers – who farmers rely on for casual labour during harvest – was in decline, from a peak of 258,248 in 2013.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s newly minted Agriculture Visa is a step closer to becoming an avenue for farmers to recruit overseas workers.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Tuesday finalised details about how employers can access workers from participating countries.

As part of a deal struck with The Nationals in June last year, the long-awaited for visa will be open to the UK and 10 countries across South-East Asia. So far just Vietnam has signed a bilateral agreement to join the visa scheme, however India was formally invited last month and discussions with Indonesia are believed to be “advanced”.

The number of visas will not be capped but instead issued on a supply and demand basis.

Applicants must be aged at least 21 years, have minimum English language proficiency, be fit and healthy, have adequate health insurance be sponsored by a Federal Government approved sponsor.

Prospective employers must become an approved sponsor, enter an agreement with DFAT that outlines their responsibilities and obligations, provide employees with details of the type of employment, pay and deductions and agree to comply with the Fair Work Act.

They must provide proof that the jobs have been advertised to Australians for at least two weeks prior to seeking offshore recruitment and offer suitable and affordable accommodation approved by DFAT, payment for which can only be deducted from workers’ pay if agreed to in writing before arrival in Australia.

Robust checks have been made to ensure the welfare of the workers brought into the country, including pre-departure and on-arrival briefings about workplace rights and responsibilities, and orientation on arrival that the relevant unions, DFAT and Fair Work Ombudsman have been invited to join.

DFAT will be monitoring employers’ compliance and this will include on-site visits, as well as unannounced inspections.

Australian Fresh Produce Alliance chief executive Michael Rogers said the organisation had been working closely with the Federal Government on the details of the visa and was excited by the speed it was progressing.

“The release of information is really positive and constructive and means things can be developed quickly,” Mr Rogers said. “We can’t afford to wait another three years. The reality is the government made a commitment and has made every effort to deliver it.”

The visa was introduced to address agriculture’s workforce shortages and complement the existing Pacific Labour Mobility and Working Holiday Maker visa schemes.

It is anticipated that workers will begin arriving this year.

A group of approved employers will first test the system before it is rolled out more broadly later this year.