Broad backing for guest workers
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The workers will be able to stay for up to seven months in any given year. (Landline)
A senior World Bank economist says overstaying will not be a problem if Australia's seasonal guest worker scheme is designed properly.
The Federal Government yesterday announced it will trial a three-year guest worker program that will see up to 2,500 workers from Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea harvesting fruit and vegetables.
Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says the workers will be able to work in Australia for up to seven months in any given year.
A small group of workers is expected by the end of the year, with Swan Hill in Victoria and Griffith in New South Wales the most likely regions for the trial.
He says the Government is working with industry groups to identify which regions will get the pilot, with Swan Hill in Victoria and Griffith in New South Wales being looked at.
The Opposition has criticised the proposed scheme, saying it lacks detail on how Pacific Islander workers will fit into the Australian labour market.
World Bank economist Manjula Luthria says the countries that offer continuity and reliable work are the ones with the most successful guest worker schemes.
"One element of good design is to allow these workers to come back year after year if they turn out to be good workers," she said.
"What that does is it shifts the incentives in favour of playing by the rules and having access to a job year after year after year rather than by blowing your chances by not complying in one year."
Meanwhile Victorian Liberal Senator Mitch Fifield says he is concerned other industries that cannot find enough labour are missing out.
He has told Sky News he is also worried about damaging ties with the other Pacific countries which are excluded from sending workers to Australia.
"There is a shortage of unskilled workers throughout a number of sectors in the economy, so why is horticulture the only sector which is going to benefit from this scheme?" he said.
"We also need to take into account the reaction of some of our near neighbours whose citizens are not eligible for this scheme."
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Comments (31)
Comments for this story are closed. No new comments can be added. If you would like to have your say on this issue, you can do so via the Emails section of our Opinion pages.
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Jack:
18 Aug 2008 10:58:37am
The amount of seasonal work that the backpacker industry and now this group will perform in coming years will be mirrored by a zero unemployment rate?? I'd like to see that!!!
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Jon:
18 Aug 2008 11:05:35am
The Rudd Government is living in fantasy-land if it thinks there won't be significant numbers of overstayers. The schemes in NZ & USA are notorious for that.
They'd be far better off requiring unemployment benefit recipients to accept seasonal work for three months out of every twelve. Those that won't, rather than can't, should be allowed to starve.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Brad:
18 Aug 2008 11:35:34am
The schemes in NZ and US are poorly managed. This is why a small scale, tightly controlled trial is worthwhile.
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Glenn:
18 Aug 2008 11:51:39am
And when these people are starving and they start steeling off you to survive you will be complaining that we need more police. How are is a person meant to keep a roof over their head if you risk being sent bush for 3 months. How are you meant to find a perminant job if you are out bush, how do you attend an interview.
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Macman:
18 Aug 2008 11:11:23am
"The Opposition has criticised the proposed scheme, saying it lacks detail on how Pacific Islander workers will fit into the Australian labour market"
Umm... hello, there is no Australian labour market to do these jobs and thats why foreign workers are being employed to do this ....... engage brain before remove the clutch on your mouth.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Jayson - Melbourne:
18 Aug 2008 11:12:36am
This sounds like a good option - work hard and be rewarded... I wonder if we could replace "work for the dole" with this type of thing?
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craig:
18 Aug 2008 11:52:25am
I completely agree with your thoughts on the "work for the dole" concept, but perhaps make the work mandatory and have the farmers top up the dole so that these people are being paid whatever anyone else engaged in this work would be paid.
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Eli:
18 Aug 2008 12:53:11pm
just wonder what happen to Samoa...in the early discussion/planning of this bill they(by labour) always insist that Samoa will be the 1st island included in such scheme there was even a parliament comittee that went to Samoa and assured the Samoan government of their inclusion in the Rudds gov. plan......just wonder whats the sudden exlusion ....maybe some negatives advise from the "long black couds) or hopefully its not Sonny Bill related
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Gypse:
18 Aug 2008 11:27:24am
About time we exploited the workers of our poorer pacific neighbours.
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Brad:
18 Aug 2008 12:14:45pm
This is hardly exploitation. It costs an employer more to (legally, above board) hire a foreign worker than a local worker. The problem is there simply aren't enough local workers (even those already unemployed) willing to do a bit of hard yakka on a farm.
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dave:
18 Aug 2008 12:24:34pm
Exploited ,I don't think so. They are being paid more than they would be back home.
They are relaible and actually want to work unlike our dole bludgers , who when are made to work for the dole don't.
It will actually help the economies of our Pacific neghbours and improve their living standards.
It will also indirectly overtime it will reduce the amount of aid we give to them.Agree (1) Alert moderator
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Josh:
18 Aug 2008 11:38:03am
Jack nowhere in this article are backpackers or zero unemployment referred to.
Jon you're worried about overstays? What's your solution "let them starve" ? We'd better get the kids out of school and down the coal mines then if we're heading back to the 19th century.
This is a good plan it provides opportunities to our neighbours to share in our wealth and supplys us with good labourers.
Will there be problems? Yes as with all new schemes, but we should at least support it before we tear it down. Whatever happend to the "fair go, MATE".Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Jack:
18 Aug 2008 1:06:18pm
My point is that it is an interesting situation here in this country where we rely heavily on external labour sources while we have people unemployed. I wasn't making any judgement about the merits of any scheme, nor the actual workers. I work in the backpacker industry, and it thrives because of the employment opportunities that are available here, which demonstrates that motivation to work is critical in the job market. Commentators that throw out the line that dole bludgers should be "made" to do this work invariably fail to acknowledge that factor. I think the scheme has merit, but what a great thing it would be if we did in fact have a zero unemployment rate at the same time.
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SpaceChimp:
18 Aug 2008 11:39:16am
"We also need to take into account the reaction of some of our near neighbours whose citizens are not eligible for this scheme."
How picky can you be about unskilled labourers filling jobs that we can't?Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Greg h:
18 Aug 2008 11:42:14am
Well .. wonder the good old irrelevant unions have to say about this.
Rudd is fast eroding the working conditions and pay of Australian workers than Howard or workchoices ever dreamt of doing.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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bitrich:
18 Aug 2008 12:16:44pm
Too right Greg h.
Who genuinely believes that working conditions in these industries won't deteriorate?
It'll become a case of boss to worker 'Do as I say. There are plenty of others I can get to work'.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Greg h:
18 Aug 2008 12:33:30pm
The role of guest workers in any nation is to contain wage inflation and keep wages low in the unskilled sector.
That has been the role of guest workers, wonder why the unions are silent on this kind of tactic which is far more worse than work choices ever could be.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Jim Bendfeldt:
18 Aug 2008 11:53:18am
Guest workers in rural areas: Great idea provided guest workers get paid proper award wages, given award conditions, not given the 'dangerman' jobs, and that it doesn't impact on local housing availability.
Also to avoid future social problems it will be important to maintain a gender balance, ensure that community leaders are involved in the program to maintain traditional culturla links, and that potential drug and alcohol issues are well addressed beforehand.
Guest workers in cities such as Sydney: No, this would place considerable additional pressure on housing availability and affordability to that already created by the massive increase in business immigrants, overseas students, and workers on 457 visas, all competing in a limited housing rental market.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Shane:
18 Aug 2008 12:00:24pm
If food producers werent driven in a cut throat race to the bottom in terms of prices perhaps they could afford to pay Australian workers a competitive wage.
Maybe it is time to admit that a lot of perishable crops simply don't adapt to industrial agriculture and mass production. A scheme to move the growing, harvesting and cooking of vegetables back into the cities where people live might be a better solution all around. Sky rocketing fuel prices may well be set to end the era of cheap refrigerated trucking.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Brad:
18 Aug 2008 12:15:57pm
Wages aren't the issue. They simply can't get people to pick fruit no matter how much they are prepared to pay.
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bitrich:
18 Aug 2008 12:03:16pm
This is an immigration increase under another name.
These temporary measures will become permanent, and in the future there will be irresistable pressure to allow permanent residency.
Does anyone really believe these people won't form relationships with Aussies?
This is another case of Rudd Labor saying one thing prior the election and doing another now they're in government.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Brad:
18 Aug 2008 12:16:26pm
Is that a bad thing when we have a shortage of workers in this country?
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Not Happy, bitrich:
18 Aug 2008 12:17:57pm
Yes, we should make sure that these guest workers have no opportunity to interact with any Australians for fear of them developing "relationships".
Best regards from an American who married an Australian and is now happily living here permanently! Oh, I'm employed too so don't worry about me sponging off you Australian taxpayers.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Rex:
18 Aug 2008 12:51:35pm
The Howard dog whistle is a shamefull part of our recent history but sadly one which a small number of people still try to employ.
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J C Denton:
18 Aug 2008 12:08:56pm
"we will pay you what is 3-6 months wage back home in a month.. take off and your never coming back for all this money"
that will stop them taking off, they will be greatful for the oppurtunity in my opinion.. unemployed to something that for them would be very high pay .. good to see every one here who isnt a employer who needs these people knock the plan.. why dont you stop commenting on your computer all day and go work one of these jobs?
oh wait you wont and never would... now you know why they need these peopleAgree (0) Alert moderator
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Ron T:
18 Aug 2008 12:12:02pm
Well if it works for the agricultaral industry there is nothing to say it can't be done for hospitality industries either. We might actually have courteous smiling faces serving us for a change. I would hope Australia wants better things for its kids than a generation or two of grape pickers.
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GDH:
18 Aug 2008 12:29:58pm
I think this plan is a good one and has the potental to bring a lot of benefits to the Pacific Islanders and their families, their home coountries, as well as farmers who need a program like this to meet their labour shortages durong harvest time.
I think it is relatively easy to set this program up to reduce the likehood of overstayers - for most people in the Pacific, this kind of program is attractive because it allows people to access regular (annual) work, generate savings and still be able to return home and live in their community. The sanction of not being able to come back the following yaer for a violation of the visa is a very strong incentive.
Sure there will be some problems,including exploitation by some farmers and labour hire companies who have exploited the 457 visa, but if the program is properly managed, they will be minimal.
The comment by Mitch Fifield from the Opposition is typical of their stance on this issue. Having opposed such a scheme for years, they now complain that it doesn't go far enough in the industries targeted.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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optimistic:
18 Aug 2008 12:33:40pm
Many of those making comments seem unaware that most unemployed are living in the main cities, and are not mobile. Migrants, temporary or permanent, are and may be willing to travel and accept living in country areas that offer seasonal (read temporary) work. Under the proposed terms of this new scene, islanders will be required to live and work in these country areas where there are no alternative Australian workers.
When I was a tertiary student, I did some fruit picking myself. It is hard work in the hot summer sun. You need to be young and fit to do it, which would also rule out many unemployed.
Keep an open mind people!Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Greg h:
18 Aug 2008 12:42:12pm
Fruit picking is back braking hard work with low pay, that is the reason why there are not many locals for this job.
You cannot restrict those pacific islanders for only those fruit picking jobs as it would be a violation of human rights.
So there is anything stopping them from looking for other kind of work in the cities or other high paying jobs in the mines.
This scheme will be a nightmare to administer and Labor govt's proven incompetence in these kinds of things dont add much confidence.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Rex:
18 Aug 2008 1:25:12pm
Wow! Proven track record on something which has never been done before.
As the irrelevent Liberals bury themselves under a pile of rhetoric, the rest of the country just gets on with actually doing things.Agree (0) Alert moderator
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Rob:
18 Aug 2008 1:16:41pm
This is the thin edge of the wedge and we are importing more trouble than the exercise is worth.
I see our crime rate going up in leaps and bounds and wonder if politicians ever see things in the longer term perspective rather than the short term expediency they operate on most of the time.
My view will be unpopular with a lot of you but get over it...this segment is called "opinion" and that is mine!Agree (0) Alert moderator
