Backpackers increasingly important to Queensland agriculture sector

[Cerberus1]

In two years the number of backpackers in Queensland has jumped a third and are becoming more and more important in their roles as harvest workers.

 

 

Growcome, the center of the fruit and vegetables sector now depends on backpackers and overseas workers more than ever.

 

 

Employers say that Australians have turned their backs on these jobs even if they earn hundreds of dollars a day, only the overseas workers can cope with it.

 

 

The Australian reported, Growcom chairman John Bishop mentions that“Australians are lazy” and Lowood farmer Andrew Jackwitz says that locals don’t like to do hard work especially in the heat of summer.

 

 

In contrary to that, Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman Nick Behrens explains that overseas workers had become “hot goods” and that backpackers and travellers enjoy the hard work and the new experiences they gather.

 

The visa numbers increased from 185,480 in 2010/2011 to 249,231 in 2012/2013.

 

Given the importance of backpackers, there is a growing concern amongst rural communities and sectors that rely on backpacker labour that poor pay and living conditions may force many internationals to reconsider coming to Australia to work.

 

 

According to a report by ABC Rural (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-04/backpackers-put-off-working-aus-farming/5068054) hundreds of complaints made by foreign workers about low wages and poor living conditions have been received by the Fair Work Ombudsman.

 

 

Of the 230 confirmed complaints received by the Ombudsman in the last two years, a third of that number have reportedly been made by workers in Queensland’s fruit picking regions.

 

 

ABC Rural interviewed Cathy Witherspoon, a hostel owner in Bowen, who said the ongoing problems with pay and living conditions is putting pressure on local businesses.

 

 

“I hear it from the pickers that come here to my hostel and a lot of them come here to me looking for work because they’re being underpaid,” she said.

 

 

Ms Witherspoon also said that, in some cases anyway, contractors are taking advantage of their international workforce.

 

 

“In most cases they’re not receiving superannuation and more than likely not having their tax remitted to the tax department,” she said.

 

 

The ABC said that while there hasn’t yet ‘been a drop in people wanting to do the season work’ this will likely change, particularly if these problems continue.

 

 

“If it continues and gets worse I’m sure it will drop off, particularly with the way kids communicate these days on Facebook, bad words spread quickly.”

 

Source: Backpacker Trade News

[diesis]

lazy australians :cute: