Solutions to workforce shortages

The dire situation for Australia’s horticulture harvest workforce now threatens the availability of fruit and vegetables for all Australians at the supermarket; with modelled shortages of up to 26,000 workers into 2021. Immediate action is required by all governments to implement solutions for the 2021 harvest. The AFPA has proposed 3 areas for action to address labour shortages. Download the AFPA's plan to address workforce shortages.
1. Support Australians & Permanent Residents The range of Commonwealth, State and Territory measures and incentives to support Australians and Permanent Residents into horticulture harvest work are welcomed by industry. The number of Australians applying for horticulture harvest work has declined over the last 30 years due to the seasonal nature of the work and the significant alternative opportunities in the Australian economy.Industry requires that all Governments:
  • Continue the new initiatives implemented in response to COVID19
  • Engage with industry to trial new measures and incentives
  • 2. Substantively restart the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme The restart of the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme announced by the Prime Minister and supported by Premiers and Chief Ministers was welcomed by industry. Unfortunately, less than 1,000 Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme visa holders have entered Australia – well short of the 14,000 visa holders who came to Australia last year. The 6,000 SWP visa holders who are still in Australia due to COVID will return to their countries in increasingly large numbers from December due to more repatriation flights. Industry immediately requires of all governments:
  • A large scale restart of the Seasonal Worker Programme to bring 20,000 workers to Australia
  • Supporting quarantine arrangements to be implemented by state and territory governments to support a national response
3. Introduce a Harvest Work Visa If the workforce shortages continue to escalate and result in shortages of fruit and vegetables on shelf, immediate action will be required to enable a horticulture harvest workforce. Industry requires the Commonwealth Government to immediately implement the proposal which will:
  • Fill the gap between the Working Holiday Maker Visa and Seasonal Worker Programme visa types to address industry’s needs and provide an appropriate visa policy mix, understanding the current over-reliance on the WHM program.
  • Create a 9-month working visa allowing workers from a single country to work in horticulture, with the ability to return year on year
  • Be capped at 10,000 visas per year
Longer Term Initiatives
Working Holiday Makers (WHM):The WHM program should be restarted when the Australian border is open to international arrivals. Refugees: Industry is working with refugee communities within Australia to match job seekers with work. Indigenous Australians: Industry has begun conversations about providing more opportunities for Indigenous Australians to take up roles in horticulture, but the focus will be on long term support.