1300 436 332
Email Us
Find the nearest MADEC
Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Peru – all part of the 462! Recent changes to the 462 Work and Holiday Visa are likely to see increasing numbers of people from Asia, Eastern Europe and South America actively seeking horticulture work in Australia for periods of up to three years. So what is the 462 visa and why […]
Author Archives: madec
29
Aug
Aug
Many growers see the use of piece rates as an attractive option to avoid paying overtime to casual workers employed under the Horticulture Award. While piece rate workers are not subject to the overtime provisions of the Horticulture Award, changing to piece rate payment is not a simple or easy process. What is a piece […]
29
Aug
Aug
Being presented with the Women in Horticulture Award at the recent Hort Connections Conference in Melbourne was a career highlight for East Gippsland farmer Carmel Ingram. The Ingram family are well known in the East Gippsland area. Their integrated vegetable production and transport business, Bonaccord, is named after the lane on which the family dairy […]
03
Jun
Jun
Want year-round harvest work – think bananas By Rob Hayes, NHLIS State Manager, MADEC Bananas are part of everyday life and, with over five million eaten every day in Australia, it doesn’t take long to realise that there must be lots of people required to pick, pack and plant the bananas that we are all […]
Visiting seasonal farm worker availability highest yet While there are temporary shortages of workers in some regions during peak harvest periods, MADEC says that the total working hours contributed by visiting seasonal farm workers for horticulture is at an all time high. “Growers can feel frustrated during peak harvest times when they need good workers […]
20
Mar
Mar
Protecting migrant workers focus of new report The Federal Government has released a report listing 22 recommendations to better protect migrant workers, including those working in horticulture picking fruit. “The report contains recommendations that could have significant implications for the horticulture industry,” said Mr Rob Hayes, State Manager – Harvest Trail (Victoria), MADEC. After almost […]
20
Mar
Mar
Tread carefully when going onto farms Visitors to Australia planning to work in regional and rural Australia doing seasonal work can help farmers keep their crops safe from nasty pests and diseases and need to learn how before getting a farm job. “Farmers appreciate workers who understand the importance of farm biosecurity – practices or […]
20
Mar
Mar
Prove you paid workers properly, or face court Employers, including growers, who are accused of underpayment of their employees must disprove the claim or face prosecution and penalties, with the first case now before court. Federal legislative changes in employment law mean that the reverse onus of proof now applies to breaches of the National […]
20
Mar
Mar
Migrant worker report has implications for growers The Federal Government has released a report on migrant workers, including those in horticulture, that recommends a national labour hire registration scheme and stronger enforcement against employers who don’t pay their staff properly. “The report contains recommendations that could have significant implications for the horticulture industry,” said Mr […]