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Proposed migrant worker scheme seen as win-win
Australia
Wednesday 04 June 2008
A Sunraysia citrus industry leader says a proposed migrant seasonal worker program would help growers who have been finding it increasingly hard to get labour to pick crops.
The program would enable Pacific Islanders to enter Australia on short-term visas to assist with the nation's horticultural labour shortage and a decision on the program is expected soon.
The chairman of Murray Valley Citrus, Robert Mansell, says picking citrus is tough work that is not attractive to locals.
He says the proposal would be a win for both the worker and employer.
"It's getting harder and harder to find people to do that sort of hard manual work these days," he said.
"Islanders or the other countries that come in and are interested in doing some hard work and really putting the effort, they'll certainly be rewarded.
"They can take home a fair bit of money to their families because they'd be earning more I'd say."
The program would enable Pacific Islanders to enter Australia on short-term visas to assist with the nation's horticultural labour shortage and a decision on the program is expected soon.
The chairman of Murray Valley Citrus, Robert Mansell, says picking citrus is tough work that is not attractive to locals.
He says the proposal would be a win for both the worker and employer.
"It's getting harder and harder to find people to do that sort of hard manual work these days," he said.
"Islanders or the other countries that come in and are interested in doing some hard work and really putting the effort, they'll certainly be rewarded.
"They can take home a fair bit of money to their families because they'd be earning more I'd say."
