says that fruit farmers in e.g. Queensland and Orange, NSW can't get enough people to pick fruit "despite the fact they could be earning up to $3800 a week."
Now since it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - so what is the catch:
- Retirees don't want the money.
- It really is too much like hard work for a few weeks to subsidise the other 10 months?
Please enlighten someone who is hoping to hit the road once there's freedom of movement (and I have a van!).
Thanks,
Nomad in waiting.
Whenarewethere said
04:26 PM Sep 7, 2020
Other half did it briefly many decades ago. It is very hard work usually with poor postures.
I think at the rate I could pick I would own them money.
Dougwe said
04:40 PM Sep 7, 2020
Welcome to the gang Gonwanda, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I have friends that gave it a go when in their 50's but lasted one week. They were treated like dirt and had to w..k (nope, still can't say that word) way too hard because the younger ones bludged.
Me, After many many moons of very long hours I can't even say that W word now without risking a major heart attack.
Keep Safe out there.
Mike Harding said
05:44 PM Sep 7, 2020
It is hard work but in my long experience of working for money... there's nowt for nowt.
Due to the covid thing I have spent about five months of this years camped on the Murray River near Robinvale, NW Victoria and I can assure you that despite the larger towns of Swan Hill and Mildura being about one hour's drive the vast majority of local labour is temporary overseas workers mostly from the Pacific islands, Malaysia and Oriental looking people. These workers are in sufficient number that the local IGA has a large section devoted to food groups preferred by these cultures.
It seems native Australians are not too keen when the work gets a bit tough.
Gonwanda said
06:35 PM Sep 7, 2020
Oops, would that be a little whinge from Mr Harding? Not THE Mike Harding of Rochdale fame I presume . . .
Mike Harding said
06:42 PM Sep 7, 2020
>Oops, would that be a little whinge from Mr Harding?
Why do you say "whinge"? I was merely observing.
>Not THE Mike Harding of Rochdale fame I presume . . .
Could be... on the internet you never know who you're talking to....
STRETCH ARMSTRONG said
06:59 PM Sep 7, 2020
You need to be in good physical condition.
Difficulty can depends on what your picking and if a ladder is required. It is mostly hot and humid around the trees so if you can handle that then you can still earn a few bucks.
There are other jobs like tractor work and the packing shed. I would think that unless they are desperate for workers if l walked up l don't think they would give me a job anyway.
Stretch
bgt said
07:02 PM Sep 7, 2020
Years ago we bought in contractors from the UK and Germany because Australians wouldn't do the hard hacker outside.
I won't say what the work was other than grafting. It was hard work but paid excellent money. But the dole was just to high to starve anyone local into doing real work.
It will be interesting to see how they get rid of job seeker and job keeper.
Cowboy7307 said
07:34 PM Sep 7, 2020
Depends if your have done hard work before, we did orange picking over 13 years ago last big dry, my wife was 60 i was 56 it was heavy work and we were fit we did 6 boxes of oranges a day between us, a young 27 year old was doing 8 on his own and he told us he was slowing up , also told me is best wage for a year was $75000, not all orchards are good for picking ,also harvest contractors don't want you if you don't need transport or accommodation ,they cant screw you as easy on wages
Just what we found when we did it, glad i was not trying to make a living ,
Gonwanda said
07:52 PM Sep 7, 2020
Cowboy7307 wrote:
"also harvest contractors don't want you if you don't need transport or accommodation ,they cant screw you as easy on wages"
Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that bit. Presumably since members here have their own transport and accommodation, it would seem to be the best strategy to try to cut out the middleman and go straight to the farmer.
Food for thought. Thanks.
bgt said
08:06 PM Sep 7, 2020
The ATO deems accommodation and transport as a part of your income. So be careful. Caveat- this was the case and recent communications with a federal MP raised the subject again. If you are retired and thinking of this sort of work be aware of the implications to pensions etc.
msg said
09:06 PM Sep 7, 2020
On Sky tonight: .Queensland strawberry grower said they were prepared to pay $4k a week for pickers. He said they had had applications from Australians but.......the Australian applicants were inexperienced and they need experienced pickers from overseas. What? BS This is approx $208k p.a. Might I speculate that this figure is unbelievable, it probably includes wage on-costs, I wonder how much the workers actually see of this wage.
bgt said
07:16 AM Sep 8, 2020
We once grew strawberries. 60000 plants. If anyone thinks that you can pay that sort of money to a picker and make a profit from $1 a punnet then I can tell you where the tooth fairy is hiding.
Think very hard before believing anything you see or hear from the media. That includes both left and right leaning media.
rastas said
07:38 AM Sep 8, 2020
Hi
speaking from experience from growing and picking for many years I can tell you that it is not for the average person.
Only a small percentage of people would be able to make much money doing it. It is very hard work.
I do not know what sort of crop the person in Qld is growing but it surely isn't strawberries.
dogbox said
07:42 AM Sep 8, 2020
Whenarewethere wrote:
Other half did it briefly many decades ago. It is very hard work usually with poor postures.
I think at the rate I could pick I would own them money.
in my back packer days and much younger I could just make enough to cover my food an drink bill working from early morning to late afternoon
bgt said
08:34 AM Sep 8, 2020
If it's strawberries then, in our case, pickers had to also remove the bad fruit. Much easier to buy them in the supermarket!!!
msg said
10:32 AM Sep 8, 2020
You guys once again missed my point. Sky had a particular message to get across. That is, OPEN THE INTERNATIONAL BORDERS and employ workers who will put up with sub standard pay because Australians won"t. Of course the pay stated is BS. I would think that harvest work is not suited to most workers. Travelling all over the country, uncertain, part time? How could you bring up a family and live a normal life under those conditions. If the general population earned that, then we would all be rich.
-- Edited by msg on Tuesday 8th of September 2020 10:33:26 AM
dieseltojo said
10:58 AM Sep 8, 2020
I reckon a test of fitness is to do some pre work at home to test the body.
Grab a spade and dig just a 3metre square of dirt over ready for spring sowing your tomatoes. Of course removing all the weeds and dig them in deep.
Then form it into beds and make sure the top section is nice and small in granular size to accommodate the seedlings.
Then sit down and have a beer to realise that you have just buggerd your back for at least three days.
Then chuck the adds for "pickers" in the bin,... where they belong.....
Gonwanda said
11:24 AM Sep 8, 2020
msg wrote
Sky had a particular message to get across. That is, OPEN THE INTERNATIONAL BORDERS and employ workers who will put up with sub standard pay because Australians won"t. Of course the pay stated is BS. I would think that harvest work is not suited to most workers. Travelling all over the country, uncertain, part time? How could you bring up a family and live a normal life under those conditions.
The original story I read, a couple of weeks ago "somewhere" was basically saying (as Mike Harding) noted, there used to be / were (are? / maybe will be?) chartered flights from Indonesia and the Pacific Islands. The guys come over for a 6 month stint and get moved around as needed. I have no doubt they got shafted by the "harvest contractor" for all the "costs" but the gist of the story was that minimum pay WAS being paid by the producer (- and probably fiddled away by the middlemen). However, from the initial look of these things, all the rules were being abided by.
Maybe the workers were being put up in sheds and being charged back at an extortionate rate for their accommodation, food and transport. That would certainly make it look like higher rates were being paid (on paper).
The backpackers and students however supposedly wouldn't work as hard and were being underpaid with no deductions or workcover rights. Ergo from the big picture, it looked like everybody was happy with the productivity, pay rates and tax paid for the dedicated seasonal migrants. That's why I wanted to canvas opinions from people who may know better than me (almost everybody).
Aus-Kiwi said
11:47 AM Sep 8, 2020
C19 and being TAXED on income doesnt Help ! They would be lucky to earn enough to pay tax ?
dogbox said
11:56 AM Sep 8, 2020
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
C19 and being TAXED on income doesnt Help ! They would be lucky to earn enough to pay tax ?
i may be wrong but i think i read that the overseas ones get taxed from dollar 1 no $18200 tax free
in the UK they bring them in from eastern Europe by the bus load to harvest the crops
Corndoggy said
12:29 PM Sep 8, 2020
About 6 years ago on a trip we were in Bundaberg and spent some time talking to a shop owner who housed people working in the area. She had 1 young foreign girl at the time. She said that she felt really sorry for her. To make the money she was working 7 days a week, 10 to 12 hours a day, if not longer. She spent all day in the fields from the time she got dropped off there till the time she got picked up from there. They did have a porta loo, they sat on the ground to eat lunch. She said the people she worked for were known for this, the money they paid was not great, they used foreign workers as they were the ones that would be most likely not to cause trouble. I think I can remember that farmers up there were prosecuted for workers right breaches. Have no idea on how things would be there now.
HunnyBunny said
01:08 PM Sep 8, 2020
Mike Harding wrote:
It is hard work but in my long experience of working for money... there's nowt for nowt.
Due to the covid thing I have spent about five months of this years camped on the Murray River near Robinvale, NW Victoria and I can assure you that despite the larger towns of Swan Hill and Mildura being about one hour's drive the vast majority of local labour is temporary overseas workers mostly from the Pacific islands, Malaysia and Oriental looking people. These workers are in sufficient number that the local IGA has a large section devoted to food groups preferred by these cultures.
It seems native Australians are not too keen when the work gets a bit tough.
Robinvale is a huge eye opener!!
Dick0 said
05:47 PM Sep 8, 2020
It's hard work whatever age you are and you are out in the sun and the heat as you toil.
kesa32 said
08:10 PM Sep 8, 2020
I did a stint when l was 18 ( 1978 ,,,, sigh .... ) , up at Mooroopna picking apples , good hard work , but yeah at 18 and just a working holiday, it was just beer money for us lol Watching 7.30 on the ABC tonight a strawberry grower even said he wouldn't do it for the money , jobkeeper pays the same , and your not bending over all day in the heat and rain ..... not for us oldies , we wouldn't earn enough for the pain involved lol
-- Edited by kesa32 on Tuesday 8th of September 2020 08:12:44 PM
Meredith said
12:25 AM Sep 9, 2020
I did it one year when I had just finished school, a very long time ago when I was very young and very fit. It was extremely hard even at that age and the money was poor, from everything I've heard it hasn't changed. I seriously doubt the $3800 per week thing given you get paid for what you pick, many people make not much more than get charged for board.
Whenarewethere said
06:53 AM Sep 9, 2020
kesa32 wrote:
Watching 7.30 on the ABC tonight a strawberry grower even said he wouldn't do it for the money , jobkeeper pays the same , and your not bending over all day in the heat and rain ..... not for us oldies
Picking those strawberries was an OH&S issue. Simple!
My back would be gone in 2 minutes & knees about 4 minutes. It is absurd that such a posture is even considered acceptable in any workplace.
bgt said
08:15 PM Sep 9, 2020
Many large farms use special "trollies" for the pickers to lie on.
For many years I picked strawberries. I would rather chew my arm off than do it again.
Warren-Pat_01 said
09:50 PM Sep 14, 2020
Yes, it's hard yacka but a lot of younger Aussies are too willing to lap up the free Job Seeker funds while it lasts.
In my younger days, I cut apricots - so they were ready for drying. Working in a tin shed with poor ventilation, no drinking water on hand in the Upper Murray area was not pleasant. Sure it was not back breaking work but when the outside temp was over 40 degrees, it was VERY uncomfortable!
I recall the pay rate was something like two shillings a tray - I earned enough to buy my kitbag to head into high school + something a little bit more.
Lots of businesses here in Townsville are suffering being short staffed while the unemployment rate is over 12% & the work is inside in airconditioning!
blaze said
10:37 PM Sep 14, 2020
In the past I have enquired about fruit picking and grain harvest work, most dont want to employ youwhen they relise that you are assie and just want a fair wage for a fair days work. Have spent plenty of time on farms as a dogs body and when they find you are a trained mechanic, they want you to do the mechanical work at dog body wages
cheers
blaze
First off, "Hi" and apologies if this is an old chestnut,
". . . fruit farmers face a chronic shortage of fruit pickers"
An article on News.com.au
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/queensland-fruit-farmers-face-a-chronic-shortage-of-fruit-pickers/news-story/489e828694ae10d3c3768350d898c1b3
says that fruit farmers in e.g. Queensland and Orange, NSW can't get enough people to pick fruit "despite the fact they could be earning up to $3800 a week."
Now since it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - so what is the catch:
- Retirees don't want the money.
- It really is too much like hard work for a few weeks to subsidise the other 10 months?
Please enlighten someone who is hoping to hit the road once there's freedom of movement (and I have a van!).
Thanks,
Nomad in waiting.
Other half did it briefly many decades ago. It is very hard work usually with poor postures.
I think at the rate I could pick I would own them money.
I have friends that gave it a go when in their 50's but lasted one week. They were treated like dirt and had to w..k (nope, still can't say that word) way too hard because the younger ones bludged.
Me, After many many moons of very long hours I can't even say that W word now without risking a major heart attack.
Keep Safe out there.
It is hard work but in my long experience of working for money... there's nowt for nowt.
Due to the covid thing I have spent about five months of this years camped on the Murray River near Robinvale, NW Victoria and I can assure you that despite the larger towns of Swan Hill and Mildura being about one hour's drive the vast majority of local labour is temporary overseas workers mostly from the Pacific islands, Malaysia and Oriental looking people. These workers are in sufficient number that the local IGA has a large section devoted to food groups preferred by these cultures.
It seems native Australians are not too keen when the work gets a bit tough.
>Oops, would that be a little whinge from Mr Harding?
Why do you say "whinge"? I was merely observing.
>Not THE Mike Harding of Rochdale fame I presume . . .
Could be... on the internet you never know who you're talking to....
You need to be in good physical condition.
Difficulty can depends on what your picking and if a ladder is required. It is mostly hot and humid around the trees so if you can handle that then you can still earn a few bucks.
There are other jobs like tractor work and the packing shed. I would think that unless they are desperate for workers if l walked up l don't think they would give me a job anyway.
Stretch
Just what we found when we did it, glad i was not trying to make a living ,
Hmmm, I hadn't thought of that bit. Presumably since members here have their own transport and accommodation, it would seem to be the best strategy to try to cut out the middleman and go straight to the farmer.
Food for thought. Thanks.
Hi
speaking from experience from growing and picking for many years I can tell you that it is not for the average person.
Only a small percentage of people would be able to make much money doing it. It is very hard work.
I do not know what sort of crop the person in Qld is growing but it surely isn't strawberries.
in my back packer days and much younger I could just make enough to cover my food an drink bill working from early morning to late afternoon
You guys once again missed my point. Sky had a particular message to get across. That is, OPEN THE INTERNATIONAL BORDERS and employ workers who will put up with sub standard pay because Australians won"t. Of course the pay stated is BS. I would think that harvest work is not suited to most workers. Travelling all over the country, uncertain, part time? How could you bring up a family and live a normal life under those conditions. If the general population earned that, then we would all be rich.
-- Edited by msg on Tuesday 8th of September 2020 10:33:26 AM
I reckon a test of fitness is to do some pre work at home to test the body.
Grab a spade and dig just a 3metre square of dirt over ready for spring sowing your tomatoes. Of course removing all the weeds and dig them in deep.
Then form it into beds and make sure the top section is nice and small in granular size to accommodate the seedlings.
Then sit down and have a beer to realise that you have just buggerd your back for at least three days.
Then chuck the adds for "pickers" in the bin,... where they belong.....
The original story I read, a couple of weeks ago "somewhere" was basically saying (as Mike Harding) noted, there used to be / were (are? / maybe will be?) chartered flights from Indonesia and the Pacific Islands. The guys come over for a 6 month stint and get moved around as needed. I have no doubt they got shafted by the "harvest contractor" for all the "costs" but the gist of the story was that minimum pay WAS being paid by the producer (- and probably fiddled away by the middlemen). However, from the initial look of these things, all the rules were being abided by.
Maybe the workers were being put up in sheds and being charged back at an extortionate rate for their accommodation, food and transport. That would certainly make it look like higher rates were being paid (on paper).
The backpackers and students however supposedly wouldn't work as hard and were being underpaid with no deductions or workcover rights. Ergo from the big picture, it looked like everybody was happy with the productivity, pay rates and tax paid for the dedicated seasonal migrants. That's why I wanted to canvas opinions from people who may know better than me (almost everybody).
i may be wrong but i think i read that the overseas ones get taxed from dollar 1 no $18200 tax free
in the UK they bring them in from eastern Europe by the bus load to harvest the crops
Robinvale is a huge eye opener!!
It's hard work whatever age you are and you are out in the sun and the heat as you toil.
I did a stint when l was 18 ( 1978 ,,,, sigh .... ) , up at Mooroopna picking apples , good hard work , but yeah at 18 and just a working holiday, it was just beer money for us lol
Watching 7.30 on the ABC tonight a strawberry grower even said he wouldn't do it for the money , jobkeeper pays the same , and your not bending over all day in the heat and rain ..... not for us oldies , we wouldn't earn enough for the pain involved lol
-- Edited by kesa32 on Tuesday 8th of September 2020 08:12:44 PM
Picking those strawberries was an OH&S issue. Simple!
My back would be gone in 2 minutes & knees about 4 minutes. It is absurd that such a posture is even considered acceptable in any workplace.
In my younger days, I cut apricots - so they were ready for drying. Working in a tin shed with poor ventilation, no drinking water on hand in the Upper Murray area was not pleasant. Sure it was not back breaking work but when the outside temp was over 40 degrees, it was VERY uncomfortable!
I recall the pay rate was something like two shillings a tray - I earned enough to buy my kitbag to head into high school + something a little bit more.
Lots of businesses here in Townsville are suffering being short staffed while the unemployment rate is over 12% & the work is inside in airconditioning!
cheers
blaze