All those lazy Australians who do not want the fruit picking jobs

[*kazumi*]

People being lured on promise of $3800 per week and then forced to sign that they understand they may earn less than minimum wage. 

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/11/15/farm-work-australia-wages/

[*tippy*toes*]

If you are speaking to me, I've dealt with most of them around here, during cherry season, apple, peach and nectarine season. I don't do grapes or plums. All have been good, except for one. He was a total A Hole and I only lasted one day with him. He has a high turn over of staff, and it's easy to see why. Trouble is for people like him, especially now days with social media, the backpackers get on their sites and say who is good and who isn't. He struggles to get staff now, while the others are sometimes having to turn people away.

Obviously the pay varies, but most of them pay pretty good around here in my opinion. Way more than a day on the dole. Plus, you can have as much fruit as you want for free. I haven't done any fruit for the last 3 years due to work commitments, but will pick up some over the Christmas break this year on my days off. They need all the help they can get. I want to see our local fruit on the shelves, and I want to see the export stuff on planes/boats. If that doesn't happen, they risk losing everything. A whole year wasted.

[rogespeed]

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@*kazumi* wrote:

People being lured on promise of $3800 per week and then forced to sign that they understand they may earn less than minimum wage. 

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/11/15/farm-work-australia-wages/

---

The plot thickens.......

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/1500-australians-registered-for-farm-work-%E2%80%94-not-one...

Seems alot of primary producers prefer foriegn back packers - young , fit , eager to please , easy to accommadate , no family responsibilites , expendable ( thermal stress not an issue) , complications easily dealt with ( expulsion ), no local frictions -  for some the mighty dollar mitigates questions of economic treason and national disloyality  - scab labour , so consumer enjoy your fruit ! 

[*tippy*toes*]

Maybe it depends on where you are. Around here, it's around 50/50 local, to backpackers. The backpackers seemed to prefer picking to grading, because often their English wasn't good, or they didn't speak English at all, so preferred to be away from the sheds where they didn't understand the conversation. 

The years I've done it, the kids that have just finished year 12 often go picking or grading, to earn some quick bucks over the summer. Some would be saving for a gap year travel, others filling in time before uni starts.

No one was forced to stay onsite. Obviously us locals would go home each day. Some of the backpackers would stay in their van onsite, others would go back to town, which was only 10 minutes drive. They weren't charged to stay onsite, because they weren't taking anything. They were in the carpark. There was no power, no food, and they got a bit of water from the tap, which they were allowed to do. Everything they needed, they supplied themselves. 

It really makes me sad that in other areas, they treat people so badly. If that happened here, there would be a revolt from the locals. They wouldn't stand for it.

[icyfroth]

Why would anyone bother when the government pays them to stay home?

[davidc4430]

working in the fruit picking or any food collecting business isnt a stable income

it suits back packers or people brought in from poor countries

it doesnt work with the average aussie who has a lease or a mogage that must be paid every week

plus all the other things most of us have (kids at school, family members with health problems)

fruit pickers commonly are free to come and go as they required

we see big headline 'aussies too lazy to pick fruit'

but as usual thats the news likes to portray the out of work

your out of work just drop everything and go fruit picking, sounds simple, it never is

[icyfroth]

True, but a lot of school leavers have the time and the energy. It could be presented to them as a way to travel, meet new people, have adventures.
The Government should assist with travel and accommodation, pay regulation. Rather than put them on the dole as soon as they leave school.

[*kazumi*]

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@icyfroth wrote:
 
The Government should assist with travel and accommodation, pay regulation. Rather than put them on the dole as soon as they leave school.

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Actually, I am quite sure that kids cannot go on the doll the moment they leave school.  I am quite sure there is a waiting period.  Adults also cannot get dole the moment they lose their job. 

[icyfroth]

I know, but there have been calls for that to happen.

I believe there is currently a 6 month gap before school leavers can apply.

That time could be used in helping farmers or other community work.

[chameleon54]

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@davidc4430 wrote:

working in the fruit picking or any food collecting business isnt a stable income

it suits back packers or people brought in from poor countries

it doesnt work with the average aussie who has a lease or a mogage that must be paid every week

plus all the other things most of us have (kids at school, family members with health problems)

fruit pickers commonly are free to come and go as they required

we see big headline 'aussies too lazy to pick fruit'

but as usual thats the news likes to portray the out of work

your out of work just drop everything and go fruit picking, sounds simple, it never is

---

Fruit picking may not suit mature aged people with young children, established homes and health issues, but I don't think the Government is actively targeting this group. My 17 yo son was out of work for a short period a couple of years ago, so he simply packed up the car, drove 250 km. and signed up to work on a horticultural property. He worked long hours but was clearing over $1000 every week driving tractors during harvesting and loading trucks with forklifts. He spent six months working on the one property and could have stayed all year around, but returned home when he was offered a job locally.

It was good money for a kid straight out of school. Much higher wage than his 17 - 18 YO mates on casual shifts in the city where making and a great life experience.

It seems a few on these forums are highly offended that the government would suggest young people could get off the couch and go and experience life and work outside of their immediate township. Its a pretty sad attitude and these will be the first people to whinge and demand a rise in wages and benefits when food prices skyrocket due to lack of harvesters.. 

[myoclon1cjerk]

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/11/16/farm-work-australia-exploitation/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_...