Grey nomads hoping to pick up casual agricultural work as they travel the country are facing fierce competition for jobs.
The worldwide economic downturn has fuelled a massive influx of employment-seeking backpackers into Australia. And the race for jobs has been exacerbated by new immigration laws that mean only backpackers who complete three months’ agriculture or construction work can extend their working holiday visa to a second year.
The number of backpackers wishing to extend has jumped 30% in the space of a year and 85% of those were allowed to stay by doing agricultural work. The West Australian newspapers says hordes of backpackers have been flocking to farm-gates looking for work, and farmers have never seen anything like it.
Carol Zunker, the manager of the Job Shop in Kununurra, says it is a trend being seen across regional Australia.
“It’s just a sudden influx of backpackers all over Australia; I’ve heard there are so many in Perth, so many in Darwin,” she told the West Australian. “I get calls probably about 30 times a day from backpackers looking for work … it’s just crazy.”
Ms Zunker puts travellers in touch with mango and melon growers looking for casual workers in the Kimberley … and has a message for would-be new arrivals.
“With all the phone calls I get … just don’t come here at the moment because we’ve got an influx of people,” she said. “At the moment we have over 200 backpackers in town and it’s just crazy.”
Jackie Jarvis, the WA manager of the Harvest Labour Service, is experiencing the same phenomenon.
“If you speak to any farmers anywhere in Australia, where it’s a known agricultural or horticultural region, what’s happening is they’re being literally inundated,” she told the West Australian. “In some situations where there might be say, 25 fruit picking jobs available, we’re hearing stories of hundreds of backpackers turning up because of word of mouth.”
While most of the backpackers are English and Irish, the most rapid increases have been among continental Europeans.
Have you noticed a larger than usual backpacker presence o the roads and in the campsites? Are you managing to find fruit-picking work? Comment below.
I agree there are too many backpackers here taking jobs from Australians. I thought there was a law that said Australians were to be given priority, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. I know farmers sometimes have a hard time getting workers, but maybe that’s not so much the case either anymore. It worries me because we plan to travel and work because there’s not much available at home, and we’re not at retiring age yet. We shouldn’t have to compete with foreigners in our own country. The other thing that bugs me is some backpackers get their visas signed off simply because their employer happens to own a farm so he uses that to get backpackers to work in his shop of cafe or whatever (which isn’t covered by the visa rule). I have seen this happen. The backpackers basically get a free ticket to stay here. Is anyone policing this? Some “employers” also ask for volunteers to work for a few hours a day for food and accommodation and promise to sign off, but I’m sure the laws says the backpackers have to work 38 hours a week to get the visa extension. How do they get away with this? Not only are the backpackers being exploited, having to work for free, but in many cases Australians are missing out on paid work. Seems someone is turning a blind eye. Just look at gumtree.com.au under farming jobs and you’ll see what I mean. You might be shocked at some of the advertisements.
I would have to agree that ‘someone’ is turning a blind eye.
I am a 29 year old Irish male who has just come SA after seeking out farm work in order to secure a 2nd year visa. The pay and conditions were the worst I have ever encountered, far below any minimum wage agreement. I would agree that the presence of so many backpackers lowers wages (to illegal levels) and of course makes it more difficult for Australians to get jobs. But, having this artificial supply of highly flexible labour means that the company’s can pay as little as they wish, and fire anyone that complains about being paid 5 dollars an hour. There is a constant queue of backpackers waiting to take this work as they want to secure their 2nd year visa. The problem lies with the Australian government and agribusiness. The fruit will no longer be left on the trees to rot, as in the past, as the government has granted a big business a very cheap labour force.
My daughter and i are australians and have moved from adelaide to qld in search of banana farm work and in this town alone are 300 backpackers where we have to go on a waiting list and wait our turn, there are australians that are not lazy and do want to work! It is just a money grabbing scheme by the government at the expense of the australian people and tax payers.The government wonders why there,s an all time high unemployment rate!! Shame on the politicians.
id have to say that fruit picking isn’t like it was. i am 41 young, went picking after 15 years. left for sunny coast, strewberry picking phone call after call all jobs gone backpackers only , all jobs through contractor .seen farmer in person 40 farms more lost count.. left . childers was next the same thing but every one was underpaid contractor ripping the workers. iv picked tomatoes i know how much u get you can make good money .bunndys up the road ill get same work there even hourly work. couldn’t get anything. the hostels is not for OZ workers , just needed bed shower . my money is good.. no beds they say. there were beds i found out. one place tried to get me to leave the front of hostel. i was talking money and ur rights ,backpackers were running scared didnt want to lose that under paid job. so off i go again with even less money. rang around for oranges no go in Q,L,D. backpackers had the jobs and a long waiting list. stanthorpe been there before ill get same thing there for shore. the same thing but u have to go through best harvest labour hire place , what the beeepin. ok than i was 6 on the list, one week later i was 67 on the list. not a phone call text. i went home join the doll. the word is austrlians are lazzy and dont want to work. that is not right we are a hard working bunch. just to hard to get that job. i anded up back out at gatton i have had bad times working there once before .but there i was again picking onions . unbelievable ,contractors, 3,4 hundred peaple on one block, all nationalities bar Australians. that place is the most corrupt and under paid ever. do not go. i have picked all fruit and veg from S,A to top of Q,L,D. walk in talk to farmer or office working that day or next day paid with super go to next farm or fruit. and work on. australia is stuffed how is to blame not me and you. thanks