Aussies are being offered a $6000 incentive to lure them to the regions to fill critical workforce shortages. Under a new federal government initiative, jobseekers will be eligible for up to $2000 in relocation assistance when they complete 40 hours of agricultural work in a fortnight.
If workers stay in the job and complete 120 hours over at least four weeks, they will be reimbursed up to $6000. Temporary visa holders will also be eligible for handouts worth $650 and $2000, respectively. Employment Minister Stuart Robert said the existing eligibility period had been slashed from six weeks to two to incentivize workers under the AgMove program. “This will help to address the continued high demand for harvest workers across Australia by encouraging much-needed workers to stay on the job for longer,” Mr. Robert said.
“Whether you’re a student on university break, on a working holiday, or an experienced long-time worker, the Australian government is providing you the flexibility needed to give agricultural jobs a go.” Mr. Robert said the new approach, developed with the agricultural sector, would provide jobseekers with the right incentives to try farm work during short but intense harvesting seasons.
Growers in January revealed they had lost more than $38 million worth of fruit and vegetable harvests due to pandemic-induced workforce shortages. The alarming figures prompted industry experts to warn that losses will soar if more was not done to attract seasonal workers to Australia.
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