Tuesday, 22 June 2021 06:55

Govt's farm pay rate directive irks farmers

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Southland sharemilker Jason Herrick says the Government is again giving farmers "the middle finger". Southland sharemilker Jason Herrick says the Government is again giving farmers "the middle finger".

A Government directive for farmers to pay new overseas workers higher rates has been slammed.

While farmers welcome the Government's decision to issue border class exemptions for another 200 dairy workers, the increase in pay levels is causing anger.

Farmers employing these extra workers must pay them $92,000 per annum or 1.75 times the current median wage for an assistant dairy farm manager.

Those employed as herd manager must be paid $79,500/year which is 1.5 times the current median wage for dairy herd manager roles.

Federated Farmers Southland sharemilker chair Jason Herrick told Dairy News that increases in pay levels is his biggest issue.

"Setting those levels for junior staff and senior staff creates a whole new set of problems with current staff," Herrick says.

"Now they will feel hard done by, so to make things smooth sailing we now have to increase the wages of our current staff to be seen to be dealing with pay equality.

"With the current payout that's all very well and good, but is the current Government guaranteeing the payout to stay there?

"If not, what happens when payout drops to $5, which is where most farms expenses are sitting?"

Herrick believes this is just another move by the Government to continue giving farmers "the middle finger".

"Most businesses will fail in the future if we see payouts drop and current pay levels keep heading in that direction, just to encourage us to employ New Zealanders that just are not there to work on farms.

"We have a long hard road ahead and I am going to keep the pressure on the Government till they start to listen and recognise they are creating all the issues we are currently having."

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says it is clear from conversations with the dairy sector that it is facing workforce pressures.

"These border exceptions will go a long wy towards relieving those pressures," he says.

The exceptions will allow up to 150 dairy farm workers in management roles on farms and up to 50 workers in dairy assistant roles, along with their partners and dependent children.

At the same time O'Connor has told sector leaders to ensure there is a strong incentive for New Zealanders to take up entry level roles and develop careers in dairying.

"The Government and food and fibres sector have been working hard to mitigate worker shortages by training and upskilling New Zealanders, but we know that takes time. This announcement recognises the immediate need for additional expertise to come through our borders.

"Dairy managers have specialist skills developed over many years, which we can't replicate overnight. With the new dairy season kicking off, migrant dairy farm workers will supplement the domestic workforce and provide critical support."

Herrick says the extra 200 workers is a token gesture from the Government.

It won't even make a small dent in the situations vacant market, he says. "We need over 1,000 in Southland alone to start getting close to relieving any sort of pressure."

More like this

Should've waited

OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.

Another win

OPINION: Feds Southland 'pres' Jason Herrick and colleagues who continue the good fight against bureaucratic madness on behalf of farmers, have had another win - for now, at least - getting a court decision granting a 'stay' on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until changes can be made to section 70 of the RMA by central goverment, somtheing they clearly signaled after the election.

Court decision a win for Southland farmers

Federated Farmers says it welcomes a recent court decision which granted a stay on rules in the Southland Water and Land Plan until legislative changes can be made by government.

Featured

Dr Mike Joy says sorry, escapes censure

Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

National

Machinery & Products

JDLink Boost for NZ farms

Connectivity is widely recognised as one of the biggest challenges facing farmers, but it is now being overcome through the…

New generation Defender HD11

The all-new 2026 Can-Am Defender HD11 looks likely to raise the bar in the highly competitive side-by-side category.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…

Gene Bill rumours

OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter