Proposed changes to the Australian horticultural award rate, which could see wage costs increase by 30 per cent for producers, could be up for discussion if the peak national vegetable body’s hopes are realised.
Following an announcement that Workplace Relations minister Julia Gillard will review award changes for the restaurant and pharmacy industries, Ausveg chief executive Richard Mulcahy is hopeful the body can also negotiate concessions.
Ausveg is the country’s peak vegetable grower body, and represents 7,000 producers.
“The proposed awards changes will have significant impacts for the Australian vegetable industry, ranging from increased costs for producers to a rise in unemployment in regional areas,” Mr Mulcahy said in a statement.
“The Horticulture Australia Council has estimated that wage costs will increase by as much as 30 per cent, under the new arrangements. The industry is already under enormous pressure and this will only result in a loss of jobs.”
The proposed changes feature rises in piecework loadings from 12.5 per cent to 15 per cent and casual loadings from 15 per cent to 25 per cent.
The new awards have raised the ire of the horticultural industry, which has claimed the new rates will hurt producers and result in the loss of jobs.
Australia is already has one of the highest labour costs in the world.
