PEAK horticulture body for Queensland, Growcom, has welcomed the announcement that the Seasonal Worker Scheme, which has been trialled for a number of years now, will be made permanent.
Growcom chief executive Alex Livingstone says the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme, where growers who were unable to source labour locally have been able to employ guest workers from around the Pacific, has proven to be a great success amongst growers who have used it and it is good news that the scheme is to become permanent.
“Growers who have used the scheme have been very happy having a stable workforce who are able to return season after season, unlike working holiday makers who can only work for up to 12 months in Australia,” Mr Livingstone said.
“Along with other farming groups, Growcom first raised the prospect of allowing Pacific Island workers to come to Australia to work in the horticulture industry in 2007. Following several years of providing input on the pilot scheme, we are pleased to see a permanent scheme will be now in place from July 2012.”
Workers from East Timor, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu will be able to return home with savings that will assist the economic development of their countries. Employment pay and conditions for the Pacific Workers will meet all usual Australian standards, and growers will contribute to travel costs.
For more information on the scheme: www.deewr.gov.au/pswps
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