Applying To Become An Approved Employer
Approved Employers manage the recruitment and placement of Pacific seasonal workers for:
- horticultural enterprises (growers, grower cooperatives, etc.); and/or
- their own horticultural enterprise.
Who Can Become An Approved Employer?
Growers, grower cooperatives, labour hire and recruitment companies are examples of organisations that can become an Approved Employer.
Approval to become an Approved Employer is based upon the organisation’s ability to satisfy selection criteria set by the Australian Government.
How Do I Become An Approved Employer?
Expressions of Interest for organisations interested in becoming Approved Employers under the Pilot are called for on a regular basis.
Please download and complete the below Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) form and send it to the Department to register your interest. The current round of EOIs will close 5PM AEDST 17 February 2012.
Organisations will need to satisfy selection criteria set by the Australian Government before being given consideration for approval.
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If you are considering becoming an Approved Employer and would like to know more, call the Pilot information line on +61 2 6240 5234 or email seasonalworker@deewr.gov.au |
What Are Approved Employers Responsible For?
- Liaising with growers and horticultural enterprises regarding their seasonal requirements for labour.
- Assisting growers and horticultural enterprises to check for local labour.
- Providing Pacific seasonal workers with an average of:
- 30 hours work per week over six months;
- 35 hours work per week over five months; or
- 38 hours per week over four months.
- Arranging accommodation of a suitable standard, health insurance and transport to and from work for Pacific seasonal workers (noting that workers will pay for these costs, and they need to be reasonably priced).
- Paying workers in accordance with the Horticulture Award 2010 or other relevant industrial instrument.
- Providing a 24 hour phone number for workers to reach their employer.
- Approved Employers will pay the full cost of the workers’ international airfares to and from Australia upfront, and later recoup a percentage of that cost from the worker.
- Previously, Approved Employers contributed 50% of the international return trip cost from Pacific seasonal workers, but now they contribute:
- 35% of each i-Kiribati workers’ airfare
- 50% of each Tongan workers’ airfare
- 55% of each Papua New Guinean workers’ airfare
- 80% of each ni-Vanuatu workers’ airfare.
- Further advice on new participating countries will be advised soon.
- Assisting workers with initial living expenses on their arrival (if required). These costs may be recouped from the Pacific seasonal workers.
- Assisting workers with access to personal banking, gaining a tax file number, preparing a tax return and applying for superannuation entitlements.
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