Pick and Play Solution to Seasonal Worker Shortage

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Adecco Provides Pick and Play Solution to Seasonal Worker Shortage

Auckland, 28 September 2007: A company with global reach has come up with a unique solution, which has gained government support, to the local seasonal worker problem.

Following three years development, Human Resource leader Adecco Personnel Ltd has developed an innovative recruitment campaign to attract greater numbers of approved harvest labour to New Zealand.

The ‘Pick & Play NZ’ campaign, which has commitment from several local growers and full support from the Adecco Head Office in Zurich, offers a work and play programme tailored for each worker that meets their earning and travel requirements.

The programme originates in the workers home country, guides them to and through New Zealand and then back home, ensures staff are trained, transported, health and safe inducted and paid – all within New Zealand legislation.

The horticulture industry is increasingly facing a shortage of seasonal workers with the result that an estimated 80% of contractors supplying seasonal labour are operating outside of New Zealand legislation.

This has led to government introducing new legislation aimed at increasing access for foreign workers. However, growers under this Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) policy are only given permission to bring workers in on the condition their housing and care is provided.

Adecco, the biggest recruitment company in the world, with 6,600 branches in 72 countries and 750,000 temporary and casual staff, is uniquely placed to offer an alternative solution to growers through the ‘Working Holiday Maker’ Visa scheme.

National Operations Manager Mike Davies says, “We can provide New Zealand growers access to a wide global network of productive workers, with the appropriate medical, police and immigration clearance, by using stringent screening methodology and induction training.

“We have run the programme past the department of labour who have been very supportive of the concept,” he says. “They seem confident Adecco will be able to run the selection and retention process for the 18-30 year olds eligible to work in New Zealand, as part of an overall travelling experience.”

According to Pipfruit New Zealand Services Manager Gary Jones, low unemployment rates and the high New Zealand dollar are the key issues facing growers struggling to find overseas workers. “Even after we employ all the locals we can, the labour shortage is estimated to be in the region of 12,000 people nationally.

“This crisis is affecting wineries and orchards around the country, particularly in major growing regions such as the Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough,” he says. “And overseas workers that we do get are often unreliable and leave with little or no notice.”

Davies says, “The issues facing growers are not going to disappear on their own. But the fact remains that those who do successfully hire and retain great staff, in good numbers, will have the competitive advantage. And with guaranteed work, tourists are likely to be more dependable than those travelling on their own itinerary.”

With offices in Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty, Whangarei and Central Otago, Adecco is well positioned to provide a more consistent and productive workforce to growers than is currently available. “And we’re looking forward to the challenge,” says Davies.

Adecco has confirmed it will run the programme in the 2007/08 harvest in New Zealand as a global pilot scheme and has already begun inducting overseas workers into the Hawke’s Bay region for the November to December period, which will run continuously through until March 2008.

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