Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Kiwifruit labour proves patchy

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There are mixed messages in the kiwifruit sector about how many more workers can be put in harvesting roles as the industry enters the peak harvest weeks. Seeka chief executive Michael Franks said the sector’s labour shortage over the past two seasons has been exacerbated by covid-19. 
Seeka chief executive Michael Franks says the company’s category 1 emissions have fallen 4% since 2019.
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His company continues to seek more workers for both harvesting and packing as it adjusts to the loss of Recognised Seasonal Employer workers.

The kiwifruit sector is estimated to have lost 1300 RSE workers when borders closed on March 19.

“The reality is we have struggled all along. Three weeks ago we were 750 short when we had 400 RSE workers that could not show up. All of these workers were experienced.” 

Meantime Franks, like other processing heads, reports a high churn rate for the workers they have been able to attract this season and the industry is concerned over what a move from level four to level three will mean to labour supplies.

“I would say the situation is still very challenging. Picking is okay, numbers come and go, but pruning later in the season is going to be very tough. Those RSE workers were all skilled and won’t be here for that.” 

Franks said there are still plenty of jobs going at Seeka with 100-150 vacancies.

Key shift management and control staff are very short with no prospect overseas RSE staff will be able to come here this season.

“It could only ever happen if one of the Pacific Islands without covid-19 could send staff here.” 

The one covid-free island is Vanuatu, also the source for many of the industry’s RSE workers.

Seeka has been working to deliver Zespri layered packs of fruit requiring more time to pack. Pushing packhouse throughput down to 80-85% while managing staff remains challenging.

Hume Pack N Cool director Mark Hume said the next 35 days are critical for the industry as the flood of SunGold fruit hits packhouses and continual operations are essential.

After some uncertainty early on his Katikati facility has a solid number of staff turning up for work.

“Until now it has just been early maturing blocks, the really hard work is just beginning.” 

Kiwifruit Growers chief executive Nikki Johnson confirmed there are still several hundred vacancies in the industry but efforts are in play to contact people who registered interest in working.

“The majority of those vacancies would be in packhouse night shifts and that is probably where the RSE workers are being missed the most.” 

The shortages experienced are often on specific sites, rather than generally.

Johnson confirmed churn rate is a problem this year, possibly because first-time workers are grappling with the physicality of the job and the longer shifts.

Overall, however, she is optimistic the industry will manage through the busy two-week peak period and can then focus on how to fill winter pruning positions. 

It is unlikely Vanuatu RSE workers will be able to come to NZ now and the focus is on redeploying existing RSE workers from around the country to work in Bay of Plenty.

Apata chief executive Stu Weston said his operation has also experienced high staff churn but he expects a normal level as work settles down.

The arrival of a team of RSE workers from Nelson, who come out of quarantine this week, will bolster a night shift. Packhouse operations are running at 90-100% capacity a shift.

“One of our biggest issues now is complacency around biosecurity and keeping to the covid-19 rules about hygiene and separation.” 

Having the taste profile assessment removed has helped fruit flow through packhouses and Weston said the industry has harvested 40% of its crop, up from 33% at the corresponding time last year.

Typically, peak harvest will be in a week’s time.

“One of my biggest concerns now is whether we will lose many people to their old jobs if we step down to level three.”

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