Labour recruitment pathways

Horticulture labour recruitment pathways

The COVID-19 pandemic has outlined the fragile labour force we have available in Victoria. Almost every horticulture primary producer has felt the effects of sourcing skilled and harvest labour for their businesses.

AUSVEG VIC has worked with industry associations, labour hire providers, and Agriculture Victoria in order to disseminate the current processes and pathways to fast-track labour results for your business.

Pathway to sourcing your seasonal workforce (harvest labour)

Seasonal Worker Programme

  • Approved employers

Now is the time to lodge your worker requirement applications. The Victorian and Tasmanian government are subsidising Pacific Islander workers, which brings the quarantining and travel costs per worker down to approximately $2,000 per worker.

  • Non-approved employers

If you are not an approved employer under the Pacific Labour Scheme, you can contact one of the below labour hire companies who are approved to contract Pacific Islander seasonal workers:

  1. Madec
  2. Owen Pacific
  3. Agri Labour
  4. Connect Group

Local worker incentives

  • Take advantage of promoting your business’ employment, with the newly announced Seasonal Harvest Sign-on Bonus which offers local Australians a cash bonus of up to $2,430 for eight week’s work on a farm – on top of their wage.
  • Additionally there is theĀ relocation assistance to take up a job which is a federal program that assists job seekers in relocating to take up horticultural work.
  • Promote the incentives on every job posting to help with local response rates.

Pathway to sourcing skilled workforce from overseas

Refer below to ‘Horticulture Visa products’ section, sourced from the AUSVEG website.

Horticulture Visa products