Australia expands Seasonal Workers Program for Pacific, East Timor

Updated Fri Aug 2, 2013 8:21pm AEST

PHOTO: About 1,500 seasonal workers were recruited by participating employers since the commencement of the Seasonal Worker Program in July 2012.

MAP: Pacific

Accommodation businesses across Western Australia will be able to employ seasonal labour from Pacific nations and East Timor under an extended initiative by the Australian Government.

The Australian Government has announced plans to expand part of its Seasonal Workers Program with the trial already underway in Broome, the Northern Territory, tropical Queensland, the Whitsundays Coast and Kangaroo Island.

Employment Minister Brendan O'Connor says the extension of the trial will allow accommodation businesses in Western Australia's tourism industry to hire seasonal workers from eight Pacific nations and East Timor at times of local labour shortages.

"Accommodation providers will benefit from being able to have the seasonal workers they need when they need them," Mr O'Connor said.

"Workers from some of our closest neighbours will benefit from the ability to earn good money to help their family and community back home."

Under the extended program, Australian employers with an unmet demand for low-skilled labour can recruit seasonal workers to work in positions including cafe workers, bar staff, kitchen hands and house keepers in the accommodation sector for a period of between 14 weeks and six months.

Minister for Tourism Gary Gray says the expansion of the program to Western Australia is a win for the state's tourism industry.

"A win for anyone wanting to visit the West and enjoy the fantastic tourism experiences we have because this program will ensure Western Australia's accommodation businesses can offer their very best service at peak season," Mr Gray said.

About 1,500 seasonal workers were recruited by participating employers since the commencement of the Seasonal Worker Program in July 2012.

The program also includes a trial in the Australian accommodation, aquaculture, cotton and cane sectors in selected regions.

Topics: travel-and-tourism, community-and-society, work, economic-trends, government-and-politics, small-business,business-economics-and-finance, tourism, pacific, australia

First posted Fri Aug 2, 2013 7:43pm AEST