The Australian Government will provide $1 million over two years to better support Pacific and Timor-Leste workers in the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) while they are in Australia.
The Seasonal Workers Programme assists Australian employers to meet critical seasonal labour needs in select locations for the agriculture and accommodation industries while contributing to the economic development of nine Pacific nations, as well as Timor-Leste.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, said the funding will provide additional welfare support to workers and connect them with their local communities.
“We want to help foster closer connections between participants of the Seasonal Workers Programme and the local communities they’re working in,” Minister Cash said.
“Stronger community connections can increase worker satisfaction, reduce homesickness and boost productivity.
“This support from the Australian Government will ensure participants of the Seasonal Workers Programme are well looked-after while they are in Australia while providing additional safeguards and welfare support.
“In addition, the Australian Government is employing 19 Pacific Labour Mobility Officers to undertake additional welfare, monitoring, compliance and accommodation checks.”
These measures are part of the Australian Government’s $9 million Pacific Labour Mobility Safeguarding the Welfare of Workers package announced in the 2020-21 Budget.
More than 48,000 visas have been granted to SWP workers since the program began in 2012, with recruitments resuming in August 2020 to help address seasonal labour shortages created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Details of the Request for Tender can be found at www.tenders.gov.au with the successful tenderer expected to be announced in early 2021.
