1 March 2011:  Cane workers alone can’t fill cotton jobs: more needed says CANEGROWERS

CANEGROWERS says cane alone cannot fill the landslide of jobs registered for Operation Harvest Help, and is encouraging any skilled workers to jump on and register their interest in the cotton jobs on offer to bring in bumper cotton crop.

There has been a landslide of cotton jobs registered on www.harvesttrail.org.au following the launch of Operation Harvest Help last week by CANEGROWERS and Cotton Australia.

“So many jobs have been registered, that CANEGROWERS is now encouraging any skilled workers who may be able to take employment during the cotton harvest to register their interest in the work,” said CANEGROWERS Chief Operating Officer, Ron Mullins.

CANEGROWERS and Cotton Australia had originally partnered on this innovative project to match cane workers with cotton employers who were scrambling to find enough workers to bring in what is looking like a record cotton crop for Australia.

“Bringing in a cotton crop of around 3.7 million bales is a massive undertaking and the cotton industry will need every hand on deck to get the job done,” said Mr Mullins.

“Cotton Australia had initially approached CANEGROWERS as the cotton harvest starts around Easter and therefore provides the potential for cane growers to get some work in before the cane harvest starts in the middle of the year. CANEGROWERS was only too happy to come to the party and also saw the potential for cotton workers to then pick up work during the sugarcane harvest which continues until the end of the year.”

CANEGROWERS says what they didn’t anticipate was just how many jobs would need to be filled. The peak group for sugarcane growers says that while many cane growers are taking advantage of the work on offer before the cane harvest starts, it doubts the sheer number of workers needed by cotton could be sourced solely from the cane industry, and is encouraging any skilled workers to register their interest in the cotton work through harvest trail.

Cotton growers with vacant jobs and cane growers looking for work can register by calling 1800 062 332 or visit www.harvesttrail.org.au

The Harvest Help matching service is being operated by the National Harvest Labour Information Service, at no charge to employers or job seekers.

Media Comment: David Bone, Cotton Australia 0488 189 502. Ron Mullins CANEGROWERS 0417 790 156
High res photos of growers at the launch: Suzi Moore CANEGROWERS 0427 641 239 or media@canegrowers.com.au


CAPTION 1: Young Rocky Point cane grower, Adam Fisher, who was interested in participating in Operation Harvest Help took the opportunity at the launch to familiarise himself with a cotton picker.

CAPTION 2: Cane growers think the Operation Harvest Help partnership has great synergies and came along to the launch to lend their support – pictured Rocky Point cane growers Adam Fisher, Gavin Pahlke, Cotton Australia’s David Bone and Rocky Point cane growers Peter Kaddatz and Linsday Mitschke. Pictured here in front of a cotton picker.

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