Seasonal worker programme working and living in australia. Australias seasonal worker programme washington, dc. Some of these entities provide onhire services, while others recruit. Seasonal worker programme regional pilot madec australia. Allowing seasonal workers to continue to work in australia. Now is a good time to apply to become an approved employer visit here to see how. The pacific labour scheme pls commenced on 1 july 2018 and is administered by the department of foreign affairs and trade. The recognised seasonal employer rse scheme came into effect in april 2007. It has also made it illegal for agents to charge a recruiting fee to workers. The seasonal worker programme is an initiative of the australian government to provide employers with reliable returning workers from pacific island countries and timorleste to meet unmet labour demands. Supporting the agriculture workforce during covid19. Despite issues with exploitation and suspect labour hire practices for foreign workers, the federal government is expanding its seasonal worker programme to help deal with labour shortages.
The dfatfunded labour mobility assistance program lmap recently undertook a survey of employers authorised to hire workers under the seasonal worker programme swp, known as approved employers. They enable approved employers to recruit workers from pacific island countries and timorleste, when local labour is not available. It suspended five approved employers in 201617 and expelled one from the program for serious noncompliance. The approved employer is still responsible for paying for the entire return international airfare and domestic transfer costs for seasonal workers to and from their. Approved employers note that other breaches workplace health and safety, fair work act, food safety allow a business to continue operating while a breach is investigated. What is the australian governments seasonal worker programme. Pacific labour scheme workers with visas due to expire can apply for a new temporary work international relations subclass 403 pacific labour scheme stream visa. Similar in concept to the australian trusted trader programme, audited approved employers would have access to a range of benefits that simplify their processes and. The need for government to give attention to the situation of seasonal workers has been highlighted in two earlier devpolicy blogs here and here. Seasonal worker programme and pacific labour scheme workers can extend their stay for up to 12 months to work for approved employers ensuring pastoral care and accommodation needs of workers are met to.
You can stay until the time we specify in your visa grant notice, which may be up to 9 months. By offering reliable and hardworking seasonal labour to employers in these industries, it helps those employers who cant meet their seasonal labour needs with local jobseekers. World bank outlines recommendations for growth of seasonal worker benefits. Visa changes to secure farm workforce during covid19 crisis. The following is a list of approved employers currently participating in the seasonal worker programme. Seasonal worker programme ministry of foreign affairs. Apr 04, 2020 the need for government to give attention to the situation of seasonal workers has been highlighted in two earlier devpolicy blogs. Seasonal worker programme worker portability pilot as part of the australian governments regional agriculture migration package, approved employers in the wimmera mallee, sunraysia, goulburnmurray and the riverina regions can share seasonal workers under the swp worker portability pilot. The australian government has two labour mobility initiativesthe seasonal worker programme and the pacific labour scheme. Savings and remittances from australias labour mobility initiatives pay for housing. To get involved in the programme, employers have to.
Employers want to recruit directly devpolicy blog from the. Seasonal worker programme produce marketing association. The seasonal worker programme swp is proving very successful for many growers and a new variation is being tested to make it more available to crops with shorter seasons. Accessing seasonal workers is easy employers in the agriculture industry with unmet demand for labour can either. The seasonal workers programme is a federal government initiative that was developed in 2012 to meet the increased demands of a labour workforce for the australian horticulture industry. Factsheet approved employers and the seasonal worker programme department of education, skills and employment document library, australian government. We give briefings to new seasonal workers when they arrive in australia to start work. Visa changes to secure farm workforce during covid19. In the agricultural industry, seasonal workers under swp can undertake pastoral work, horticultural work, cane work, cotton work and aquaculture work. In this report, you will also find the checklist of requirements that must be completed for onarrival briefings. While the overarching principles of the regional pilot are identical to that of the seasonal worker programme, there are some key differences. Covid19 coronavirus department of education, skills. The seasonal worker programme offers employers in the horticulture and agriculture sectors and employers in selected locations in the accommodation sector access to a reliable, returning workforce when there is not enough local australian labour to meet seasonal demand. The seasonal worker programme swp commenced on 1 july 2012 and is administered by the department of employment, skills, small and family business.
Employers in a range of agriculture industries including cattle, sheep, grain and mixed enterprises will now be able to apply to be part of the seasonal worker programme. Current seasonal worker programme swp approved employers can apply to join the scheme, but will need to undergo the scheme approved employer assessment process. Agricultural workers work temporarily in canada canada. The policy allows the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit workers from overseas for seasonal work when there are not enough new zealand workers. Pacific seasonal worker programme set for bigger impact. Approved employers do not need to undertake labour market testing for the duration of the regional pilot for the regions that they are eligible to operate under.
If you are hired through the seasonal agricultural worker program sawp, you can work for any sawp employer in canada. Nq powertrain pty ltd trading as powertrained is an approved employer. These workers help growers harvest crops, increase productivity and get produce to market. Employers in a range of agriculture industries including cattle, sheep, grain and mixed enterprises will now be able to.
Recognised seasonal employers can recruit workers from overseas to work in our fruit and vegetable and grapegrowing industries when they need extra workers. The vanuatu seasonal workers scheme is part of pacific seasonal workers scheme employmentrse. A video for seasonal workers and approved employers, on what to expect when participating in the seasonal worker programme. There is an administrative limit or cap on the number of rse places that can be taken up in any one year. First, approved employers face the problem of swp workers 403. Sep 28, 2016 a video for seasonal workers and approved employers, on what to expect when participating in the seasonal worker programme. Download docx file of factsheet approved employers and the seasonal worker programme 0. This is where the seasonal worker programme becomes an excellent alternative for employers in regional areas. A select group of australian approved employers are able to recruit your workforce from participating 9 pacific islands and timorleste. Resources for approved employers department of jobs and small.
Approved employers do not have adequate visibility of breach conditions, and their connection to a suspension, to enable adequate risk mitigation. Seasonal worker programme workers currently in australia can. Seasonal worker programme and pacific labour scheme workers can extend their stay for up to 12 months to work for approved employers ensuring pastoral care and accommodation needs of workers are met to minimise health risks to visa holders and the community. A select group of australian approved employers are able to recruit your workforce from participating 9. Factsheet approved employers and the seasonal worker. Seasonal worker programme workers with visas due to expire will be able to apply for a temporary activity subclass 408 visa in the australian government endorsed event agee stream. A pacific island worker can only be recruited by an approved employer under the seasonal worker programme. Seasonal worker programme department of education, skills. Participant in the seasonal worker programme credit. The scheme complements the existing seasonal worker programme which, since 2012 has provided more than 33,000 seasonal jobs to workers from the pacific and timorleste. Madecis a national notforprofit, community based organisation that has been an approved employer for the pacific seasonal worker programme since. The full benefit of the swp to all parties can only be achieved by an approved employer who is committed to every aspect of the programme. On 4 april 2020, the australian government announced temporary changes to visa arrangements that would allow pacific workers under the seasonal worker programme and the pacific labour scheme to continue working in the agriculture sector until the coronavirus crisis has passed.
The aim of the survey was to better understand their perceptions of how the program is being managed within sending countries and to identify areas. New visa arrangements for seasonal workers 4 april 2020. Factsheet approved employers and the seasonal worker programme. The entities listed below are approved employers that have agreed for their contact details to be published on the seasonal worker programme website. This visa stream lets you come to australia temporarily to participate in the seasonal worker program. Seasonal worker programme and pacific labour scheme. Nov 26, 2019 while the overarching principles of the regional pilot are identical to that of the seasonal worker programme, there are some key differences. Seasonal worker program stream department of home affairs. Approved employers will pay the full upfront cost of the workers international airfares to and from australia and later recoup a percentage of that cost from the worker. Seasonal workers contribute to productivity and profitability gains. Newly approved employers general face what is know as a recruitment cap on their first placement of seasonal workers, allowing employers the opportunity to adjust to their obligations and responsibilities under the programme whilst working with a manageable number of seasonal workers. The seasonal worker programme in australia seasonal worker recruitment process.
Recognised seasonal employer list immigration new zealand. Frequently asked questions about the pacific labour scheme. To find out more about pacific labour mobility, visit. Nov 15, 2019 the seasonal worker programme swp is proving very successful for many growers and a new variation is being tested to make it more available to crops with shorter seasons. Listing of current approved employers department of. The seasonal worker programme has been highly effective in helping australian businesses overcome seasonal labour shortages, minister cash said. Seasonal workers expanding to greener pastures ministers. Swp approved employer guidelines version 1 effective from 1 january 2020 1 purpose and overview relevant deed clauses see in particular clauses 1, 2, 5, and items a and f1 of schedule 1 of the deed. Employers want to recruit directly devpolicy blog from.
Oct 18, 2018 what is the australian governments seasonal worker programme. The pilot a trial within the seasonal worker programme swp is being undertaken so that crops with shorter harvest periods can access these highly motivated workers. Program to help smaller businesses access seasonal worker. They enable approved employers to recruit workers from pacific island countries. This blog focuses on the problems approved employers in the seasonal worker programme swp are facing in coping with the current extraordinary situation of the covid19 pandemic. Listing of current approved employers department of employment. The need for government to give attention to the situation of seasonal workers has been highlighted in two earlier devpolicy blogs.
1164 140 937 460 487 1394 834 1056 504 1013 1173 154 734 1285 931 560 189 788 122 1220 1355 700 873 241 1509 1171 493 582 889 620 15 1460 916 1486 257 402 1019 453 524 1401 1215 282 1445 821 487 1252