Towards a durable future: tackling labour challenges in the Australian horticulture industry

The horticulture industry is reliant on workers to pick, pack and grade fresh produce, with the bulk of the seasonal horticulture workforce in Australia drawn from different types of temporary visa holders. However, evidence suggests that the workforce that sustains this industry is poorly regulated and managed. Despite growers attesting to labour shortages, the industry is often accused of non-compliance with labour standards, in particular for migrant workers. This report interrogates both the extent of labour shortages in the horticulture industry for pickers, packers and graders and...  [+] Show more

The horticulture industry is reliant on workers to pick, pack and grade fresh produce, with the bulk of the seasonal horticulture workforce in Australia drawn from different types of temporary visa holders. However, evidence suggests that the workforce that sustains this industry is poorly regulated and managed. Despite growers attesting to labour shortages, the industry is often accused of non-compliance with labour standards, in particular for migrant workers. This report interrogates both the extent of labour shortages in the horticulture industry for pickers, packers and graders and the level of non-compliance with labour standards. Its purpose is to comprehensively examine horticulture labour supply to develop a robust evidence base for analysing the effectiveness of existing policy arrangements and organisational practices and to identify areas for potential reform.

The research for this report revealed both the depth of labour supply and compliance challenges facing the horticulture industry and the fragility of current labour supply options currently provided within the Australian regulatory framework. The evidence suggests a need to redesign labour pathways, particularly to ensure that temporary migrant workers are channelled via visa categories that will enable growers to meet their seasonal and ongoing labour needs more efficiently and sustainably.

Excerpts from publication.