The agriculture industry employs about 242,000 people, but last week a group of industry bodies, the Food Supply Chain Alliance, reported more than 172,000 extra workers were needed.
Workforce shortages are plaguing the agriculture sector, causing major problems for food producers.
Nabi Baqiri, a former refugee from Afghanistan, now owns three fruit farms in the Mooroopna/Shepparton area.The agriculture sector is crying out for people like Baqiri – from fruit pickers and packers to abattoir and dairy workers. The pandemic has thrust the sector’s gaping worker deficit into the spotlight, but in reality, it has struggled with labour issues for years and even industry leaders have conceded there have been problems with exploitation and wage theft.
Since the pandemic the availability of backpackers has plummeted and the industry has become more reliant on Pacific Island labour, the program was significantly expanded in 2021.After six years picking, Baqiri started his own labour contract business and then bought an orchard in 2013. He wants the federal government to lift its humanitarian intake from Afghanistan and offer a home for them free of the Taliban’s tyranny. He says he has the jobs to help migrants get established in Australia.
Faez noticed that as the backpackers left during the pandemic, many of the gaps were filled by the undocumented workers.
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