Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences research predicts the lack of supply in overseas harvest workers, particularly from the Working Holiday Maker program, will result in a forecast drop in fruit production by as much as 17 per cent and vegetable production by around two per cent.
This drop in production is ultimately expected to see prices increase between seven and 29 per cent.
It comes as a national committee advising the Federal Government on agricultural labour has recommended a “fit and proper person” process for farmers employing backpackers and simplified rules to enable jobseekers to take up seasonal work.
National Farmers’ Federation Horticulture Council executive officer Tyson Cattle said the concerns about a lack of harvest labour since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic had only worsened.
He said the industry had been forced to rely on seasonal workers due to the lack of domestic workers looking for roles in horticulture, and that there was a critical need for workers to be brought in at scale and immediately.
Governments have been working to resolve the situation through incentives to attract local workers, visa extensions and relocation assistance.
Last week the Victorian Government released an additional $19 million to address harvest labour shortages through the Seasonal Harvest Sign-on Bonus, offering up to $2430 for jobseekers who take up seasonal work.
ABARES showed the number of working holiday makers had declined 64 per cent in 2020 and numbers were likely to continue to decline, as there is no end in sight on international borders reopening.
The National Agricultural Labour Advisory Committee talked to 300 stakeholders and received 117 submissions and put forward 30 recommendations to rebuild the workforce.
The committee said there was a negative perception of the horticulture industry, due to some businesses doing the wrong thing, which had affected job prospects.
It recommended the establishment of an ‘Employer of Choice’ academy and award scheme, along with a ‘fit and proper person’ registration process for employers seeking to employ working holiday makers.
This would include a database of registered employers, verification that the employer has not been prosecuted for breaches of workplace laws, agreement to list vacancies on the Harvest Trail Services website and the opportunity for an employer to be deregistered, preventing them from hiring.
The committee also recommends an overhaul to mobilise overseas workers more effectively across the country, improve accessibility for smaller business and for businesses with short, intense harvests, improve portability of overseas workers among farms and expand the length of stay to 12 months.
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