Pacific Labour Scheme / Seasonal Worker Programme for Agriculture

Andrew Serra – FNQ banana and avocado grower - shares his experience

*Article courtesy of Australian Banana Growers’ Council

Andrew Serra has spent a lot of time on the phone over the past 12-months. While this isn’t unusual for most business owners, it’s the subject of those phone calls that has changed. “We’ve been working with [labour hire company] Madec non-stop,” he said. “I’ve been on the phone with them every second day, just pushing.”

Mr Serra, who grows bananas and avocados, has been looking for workers since this time last year. He’s managed to get by with current staff but describes the situation as a constant battle. Thankfully, he’s now secured a number of seasonal workers through the hotel quarantine system.
“I know a number of farms who use these workers and have got very few people currently. The turnover is massive and it’s draining on the farm owners, obviously, but also on their support staff and management team. From our experience, it’s not only us but also our supervisors and managers have been struggling since Christmas.”

Mr Serra describes the current situation as an employee’s market. The few that are looking for work can pick and choose, and agriculture is often far down their list desirable jobs. For Mr Serra, the solution lies in working with authorities to set up more quarantine hubs and ensuring appropriate vaccinations are available to those coming from COVID-free countries to work. 

“Unfortunately, though, it’s going to be user pays,” he said. “The days when you could pick up a worker fresh into the country, without having to pay for quarantine or anything else, are likely done, for the next few years at least. Some can afford it, some can’t. I understand that. It’s a commercial decision people will have to make. It’s not a cheap decision. But after going through the process, there’s a little light at the end of the tunnel – productivity and workplace culture has improved." It’s not over yet, though. There’s always going to be competition with other industries and backpackers can pick and choose their path. With many banana businesses struggling, particularly those that are smaller, Mr Serra’s advise is to work with reputable Approved Employers to give you the best chance of accessing new workers arriving into the country.

2021 will go down as a birthday with a difference for Barrie Mackay from Mackays Bananas

Barrie spent his special day in quarantine alongside 60 workers from Vanuatu who have come over through the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) to help meet labour shortages at Mackays Tully farm. 

While Barrie wanted a no-fuss birthday, the workers weren’t going to miss a chance to sing happy birthday and drape him in their national flag. They then presented him with a handmade garland using material sourced from the accommodation’s garden.  A special cake delivery at the daily food drop, organised by Barrie’s wife Nadia, was icing on his birthday celebrations.

The Queensland Government is coordinating quarantine requirements for employers seeking to bring agricultural workers into Queensland from low-risk Pacific Nations under the Pacific Labour Scheme/Seasonal Worker Program. Approved employers such as Mackays Bananas nominate the country the workers would come from, the proposed quarantine arrangements and where the workers will stay and work after quarantine. “The ability to access workers from our low-risk Pacific nations has certainly helped us out,” Barrie said. “Since our borders closed to manage the pandemic, we’ve been faced with challenges around workforce and there’s no silver bullet. As an industry, we will continue to need overseas workers, local workers and backpackers who are still in the country.”

Queensland was the first state to allow on-farm quarantine. And since October 2020, DAF has assisted with welcoming 3,000 workers who have completed quarantine.