New Zealand needs a plan to help migrant workers pick fruit and vegetables, or prices will soar and farms could go bust, writes Swati Nagar. Growers say the arduous nature of fruit picking makes it difficult to attract and retain domestic workers. While this is considered a relatively high rate for migrant workers, domestic workers may not view it as a sustainable income. One Waikato berry farm owner who has been working with the Ministry of Social Development to hire domestic workers has said people "weren’t applying". Those issues are less pressing for migrant workers who arrive with the sole purpose of earning, and whose families and networks are prepared for their absence.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 26, 2020 15:22 UTC