THIS season is likely to create major disruption to the harvesting of all the fruits that grow in the Goulburn Valley.
Cherries are already in harvest and soon the seasonal stone fruits then pears and apples will be looking for thousands of seasonal workers that are not there.
Over the past several years, growers have placed a large reliance on backpackers and migrant workers who, due to the pandemic, have not remained in the country and look like will not be back for some time yet.
The quandary for growers is where can they source workers? Much effort is being done to locate pickers from the Pacific Islands, where the likes of Vanuatu had a couple of thousand ready to come until COVID-19 reared its head in the islands during the past weeks.
With youth unemployment in the GV running at around 14 percent, there are ideas that might see this group engaged in the sector. The challenge is the serious, even detrimental perception of the industry among Australians.
A recent Facebook posting by the ABC drew several hundred comments that were in the main, negative about the industry overall with claims of underpayment, theft, poor conditions, abuse and exploitation.
Some growers argue that Australians are not up to the job, it is too hot, too dusty, too heavy, yet there are many jobs around the country just as hard that attract all manner of people.
Backpackers, whom are a major source of labour, have now dried up and even into next season, may not exist. They come at a time after 12 months stay and with current restrictions, they may not even get to start that until late into next year.
Ideally, getting Australians to work is the preferred option rather relying upon importing workers.
A recent Facebook post highlighted some aspect of the problem. A picker might gross around $750 for a 38-hour week. Less their taxes and forced into grower provided accommodation that can run to $70 per day, the net income can be as low as $150 or $4.00 per hour which is hardly enticing for an Australian, who on Jobseeker is getting $360 per week or close to an equivalent of $10 per hour. It is not difficult to see what is the crux of the problem.
