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New migrants join Naracoorte workforce

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Gabrielle Duykers, Naracoorte Community News

Teys Naracoorte will welcome 15 new Pacific Island employees this month in an effort to support its cattle processing operations amid changing herd numbers.

Teys general manager of corporate affairs John Langbridge said the plant was proud to be a strong employer in the community.

“Our business starts and ends with people, and we are proud of the diversity of our workforce at our Naracoorte facility and across our business,” Dr Langbridge said.

“We are committed to providing them with a new start and fresh opportunities as they contribute to both our business and to the local community of Naracoorte.”

Dr Langbridge said Teys would also utilise its “close” relationship with the Naracoorte Migrant Centre to achieve the “best outcome” for the new workers and help them integrate into the community.

The new migrants will arrive in Naracoorte at a time of peak housing shortages across the region.

As of last week, the current residential rental vacancy rate in Naracoorte was less than one per cent, with just two properties available for lease.

Dr Langbridge said Teys was engaging with local organisations to understand the housing market options and find suitable accommodation for its incoming employees.

“We are confident with the outlook for this group of workers,” he said.

“Ensuring our new workers have access to appropriate temporary and long-term housing is a critical first step to becoming part of the community.

“In parallel, we continue to work with the Naracoorte Lucindale Council and other agriculture-based employers in the Limestone Coast area to lobby both state and federal governments for assistance with housing.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many beef processing plants have struggled to source workers.

The new Pacific Island employees have been hired through the Pacific Pathways Plan, a Federal Government initiative that exempts workers from quarantine to help fill critical workforce gaps immediately.

Dr Langbridge said securing an adequate supply of staff was a top priority.

“The impact of labour shortages on the red meat industry, if not addressed, will have major

repercussions for regional communities not far down the track,” he said.

“Continued labour shortages in the meat processing sector will reduce the processing capacity of the whole industry at a pivotal time when cattle numbers climb nationally, as producers start to rebuild their herds.

In June, Teys Naracoorte was operating four days a week instead of the usual six for that time of year

If the meat processing sector was unable to support cattle processing, Dr Langbridge said it would cause a drop in cattle prices.

“Teys is continuing to monitor the herd rebuild outlook, and its recruitment at Naracoorte will support processing capacity as cattle become more readily available,” he said.

Naracoorte Community News 15 December 2021

This article appeared in Naracoorte Community News, 15 December 2021.

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