1. Ni- Vanuatu in the Australian Market
Linnea Barlow

2. Jobs Australia Enterprises (JAE) Snapshot
Approved Employer (AE) since pilot in years
AE’s include
Growers
Labour Hire (JAE)
Contractors
Top 10 in Volume of Workers
Operate in NSW, QLD, SA & VIC
Workforce: Fiji, Kiribis, Timor Leste, Tonga, Solomon Islands, & Vanuatu

3. VISas Approved for swp (subclass 403)
Fiji
Kiribati
Samoa
Sols
Timor Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
to 30/09/2018
July 26
< 5 25 65
118
214
August 6 5 8 57 39 78
655
September 28 20 79
181 89
574

4. SEASONAL WORKER PROGRAMME (SWP) SNAPSHOT
According to ABARES : 69 Approved Employers across Australia, 74% of Seasonal Workers recruited by AE’s operating under the ‘labour hire’ or ‘contractor’ business model (Smith 2016). According to DoJ- 2019: just over 110 AE’s, upwards 50 seeking approval to participate

5. APPROVED EMPLOYERs Play a significant role in success of swp
Managing Risk
Employers take all the risk
Costs we pay for are endless
On average to get 1 worker from Vanuatu with all costs involved takes $3,000 AUD per person*
Flights (to & from country)
Visa
Cash Advance
Seasonal Worker absconds AE’s required to pay Health Insurance up to 21 days
* Does not include: vehicles purchased, bonds for accommodation, welcome packs, meals for first days, PPE (looking at upwards $25,000 AUD)  That’s only if there is 1 vehicle!!

6. Seasonal Workers play a significant role in success of swp
The productivity of seasonal workers was, on average, 20 per cent higher than that of working holiday makers for the farm businesses in this study, based on fruit picking tasks. ABARES Seasonal workers who returned to the farm were on average 15 per cent more productive than new seasonal workers. This is mainly because returned workers required minimal induction and training in subsequent seasons as they had previously acquired skills and farm knowledge. ABARES

7. Seasonal Workers play a significant role in success of swp
Comfortability + Entitlement, Falling into temptation &/or Distraction
= Complacency
Complacency + Poor Decision Making = Discipline in Australian ways
of living
Common problems include: High abuse in alcohol, drunk driving, infidelity, physical flights
CONTEXT:
Now: 900 in Australia with JAE
Last 6 months: ½ dozen issues

8. Sending countries play a significant role in success of swp
Discipline that has 1 voice (Australian Law & Ni Van Law)
Pre departure health checks (cancer, pregnancy)
Agents
Training
Understanding ways of life:
How to sleep in a bed
How to use a microwave; basic appliances
Importance of wearing seat belts
Importance of water/ electricity use
Eating well while in Australia
Communicating if unwell or sick (due to insurance)

9. The Australian government plays A Significant role in success of swp
Collaboration with AE’s & DoJ
Red Tape
Lack of Flexibility between AE’s
LMT
Health Insurance
Reduced rates for workers
Seasonal Worker absconds AE’s required to pay Health Insurance up to 21 days
Superannuation
Isn’t this an aid program? Why the high tax?
Difficulties in Claiming
Bank fees
Don’t understand it
Lack of resources (Computers)

10. There is massive potential in the seasonal Worker Programme