Uncategorized

Sugar milling sector seeks progress at Jobs and Skills Summit

30 August 2022

Ahead of tomorrow’s Jobs and Skills Summit, the Australian sugar milling sector has outlined its priorities for addressing the sector’s skills and labour shortages.

Converting sugarcane to raw sugar through advanced manufacturing, the Australian sugar milling sector employs thousands of factory, transport, engineering, IT, science, finance, procurement and administration staff.

Operating from Bundaberg to Cairns, the sector presently has hundreds of vacancies across multiple vocations including trades (fitters and electricians mainly), loco drivers, general mill workers, analysts, engineers lab technicians, accountants and more.

“Despite a variety of attraction and retention strategies, including apprenticeship programs, our sector like many sectors is having difficulty finding and keeping the right people for these positions.  The issue is exacerbated by our aging workforce, the coal mining boom in regional Queensland and a lack of affordable rental housing in our communities” said ASMC CEO, Rachele Sheard.

Ms Sheard added, “To address the ‘here and now’ shortfalls and operating pressures, we need highly flexible migration settings and housing availability and affordability.  Currently the process of identifying overseas workers, undertaking the requisite skills recognition checks and applying and being granted short term visa’s is taking up to 10 months.  There is then limited housing options for these workers and their families”.

The ASMC supports the following actions for addressing the current problems:

More flexible and expedited short-term worker visa and permanent residency options.

Better demand forecasting for labour and skills by regional employers to allow training providers to be more ‘demand responsive’ to market needs.

Promotion of workforce mobility and participation through a rental affordability scheme for regional Australia.

Ensuring that our schools continue to promote school-to-trades job opportunities.

-ENDS-

Background

Australian Sugar Milling Council

The Australian Sugar Milling Council is a voluntary organisation, established in 1987 to represent Australian raw sugar mill owners. The Milling Council is the peak policy forum for mill owners and has as its mission to be an influential voice for change in the Australian sugar industry through leadership and policy advocacy.

The Milling Council works with its members, other industry organisations and government to develop and promote policies that enhance the commercial development of the sugar industry in Australia.

Further information:         

Click here for a pdf of this media release

Rachele Sheard, Chief Executive Officer, 0408 777 898