• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Fruit Pickers Are Now Guaranteed A Minimum Wage In Australia And That Could Cause Prices To Jump

Home> News

Updated 08:52 28 Apr 2022 GMT+1Published 08:53 28 Apr 2022 GMT+1

Fruit Pickers Are Now Guaranteed A Minimum Wage In Australia And That Could Cause Prices To Jump

The likely rise in price follows Australian farmers now paying a higher minimum wage to fruit pickers due to the Horticulture Award changes.

Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis

Australians have been warned that the current inflation could become worse after farms across the nation could potentially make fruit and vegetable surge in prices.

ABC News reports the likely rise in prices follows Australian farmers now paying a higher minimum wage to fruit pickers, with the Horticulture Award coming into effect today (April 28).

Under the new regulations, the new minimum wage guarantee requires all pieceworkers picking or packing produce and getting paid by how much they harvest to now be paid at least the ‘hourly rate’, according to The National Tribune.

Alamy

Advert

Though Chief executive of Fruit Growers Tasmania Peter Cornish welcomed the new wage, he warned Australian shoppers that they would likely see a rise in costs for fruit and vegetables.

He told ABC News: "There will be higher cost pressures. Whether that transfers into [sale] prices or not is another matter, but there will be a pressure on that for sure.

"If they have to top up people that are below the minimum, that means higher costs and it may well transfer into higher fruit prices as well."

Workers will now receive $25.41 per hour; however, they can receive more depending on how much they harvest.

Amendments to the Horticulture Award follow a Commission by the Australian Workers Union (AWU) after years of farmers reportedly exploiting workers.

Advert

Alamy

AWU national secretary Daniel Walton shared with ABC News that some workers were earning as little as $3 an hour, with horticulture employers using the old structure to ‘rip off’ their employees.

He said: "Underpayment was widespread. That's the evidence we put forward, and that's what the independent umpire found sufficient to rule to put in this pay floor.

"The old piece rate structure was never meant to be a mechanism to rip workers off, it was meant to ensure workers could earn more. But that wasn't always happening."

In February, Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said the changes would see new resources to help farmers meet these legal obligations to pay their employees fairly.

Advert

She said: “The Fair Work Ombudsman has published extensive new and updated resources on our website to help horticulture employers understand and comply with these award changes.

“We encourage businesses to use these free, practical resources, which include a piecework arrangements employer checklist and templates for piecework records, timesheets and reconciliation.”

Featured Image Credit: Alamy.

Topics: Food And Drink, Australia, News

Charisa Bossinakis
Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis is an Associative Journalist at LADbible. Charisa has worked across various media platforms including, print, digital, radio and podcasting while maintaining the highest regard for quality work and integrity. She also covered everything from breaking news, to pop culture, entertainment and politics and is part of the editorial team for LADbible.

X

@CBossinakis

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Jeremy Clarkson's controversial pub rule that sparked months of backlash could be solved
  • Doctors warn against eating popular food if you're on Ozempic that could cause very unpleasant side effect
  • Psychotherapist explains why Gen Z are having a 'fridge cigarette' in the afternoon
  • You can now buy nostalgic chocolate bar that was discontinued in the UK in 2022

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    Man horrified to discover his new home is actually someone else's Airbnb

    Ben Echianu, from Manchester, branded the woman whom he believes posed as a landlord as 'heartless'

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Christian Horner releases statement after being sacked by Red Bull after 20 years

    Horner shared a lengthy statement on social media

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Donald Trump shuts down reporter who asked Jeffrey Epstein question following release of CCTV footage

    It seems the US President deems the topic to be no longer up for discussion

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Cardiologist who had heart attack warns people to not 'make same mistake' over little-known warning sign

    The irony isn't lost on Dr William Wilson

    News