With three SA tomato businesses, including a major supplier, forced into quarantine because of the outbreak of a crop virus, workers like Sharon Tarisesei have lost their jobs, and are apprehensive about securing future employment.
Sharon Tarisesei says she does not yet know where in Australia she will be redeployed for work.The United Workers Union says more than 200 labour hire casuals at Perfection Fresh will lose their jobs over the next two months.
"They are very worried — they're worried if they're laid off, they don't come back to work. What's going to happen? They've got children, families to look after. It's going to be hard."ABC News: Briana FioreMs Tarisesei, who recently travelled to Australia from Vanuatu, is a participant in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme, which means she will be guaranteed work at another farm somewhere Australia.
The virus does not pose a threat to human health, authorities have said, but can reduce the yield and quality of produce.The outbreak in South Australia has led to Western Australia and Queensland banning SA tomatoes, while New South Wales is only dealing with businesses in the clear., after previously warning the SA government that biosecurity restrictions could result in the loss of up to 500 employees.
"For a lot of those workers, finding new work is going to be quite difficult … because some people have English-language concerns," Mr Nelthorpe said."The union will work with Perfection, with some of our big employers in South Australia to try and find redeployment opportunities — but that won't be possible for some workers, which is why we're calling on the federal and state government to provide some financial assistance.
"With no timeline for when the lockdown might be lifted, we have no choice but to stand down workers, some of whom have been with us for many years," Mr Simonetta said in a statement. "There is still work at Perfection Fresh in the cucumber side, and also potentially other work in terms of clean-up and so on, so the letting-go of staff is being done over a staggered timeframe," Ms Scriven said.
Tomato Brown Rugose Virus Tobrfv Perfection Fresh SA Tomatoes Government Biosecurity Restrictions Quarantine Adelaide Plains Virginia Job Losses
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