Conversely, many contract employers rely on their staff going to Europe or North America over the winter, removing the need to pay them when there is little work.
The global border restrictions meant contractors cannot expect to recruit foreign staff as they usually would to work in the new season, Rural Contractors Association chief executive Roger Parton said.
“My advice to contractors is that they need to start planning for this now. There is an issue of you not being able to get overseas staff when you want them.
“You may have to train NZ staff to fit in. You need to consider how you will train them and you need to consider when you need to start training them so they are productive at the time.”
There is now a large pool of unemployed people the industry could recruit and train to fill any shortfall.
Parton knows of one contractor who recently employed several former forestry workers as machinery operators.
“There is a pool of people out there used to using big machines.”
It will be relatively simple to re-train them to operate agricultural machinery.
“A big machine is a big machine. It’s the finer points that really matter.”
He estimates about 40% of staff employed by agricultural contractors are foreigners.
Rural Contractors usually advertises quarterly for overseas workers and is about to do that again. Parton expected a significant number of New Zealanders will apply for the roles.
“We usually get two or three but I suspect we’ll get a lot more this time and those will be circulated to all of our members.”
He pointed to the recent coverage of airline pilots working in a supermarket.
“There may be some who decide that in view of all that has happened and what is likely to happen that this might be a good time to look at a career change because one thing that is always going to be needed is food.”
The level of training new workers need to make them competent depends on the worker’s skills.
The technology in some machines such as harvesters means they could virtually be run on autopilot while others, such as mowers for silage, require more training, he said.
“When you’ve got a machine with 20-metre rolling blades at the front you have to be sure the person in the cab knows what they are doing.
“My gut feeling is that we will have some hiccups with staff in the forthcoming season but I think if we are flexible in our outlook and those who are seeking employment are prepared to expand their horizon then we may well not have as much difficulty as we would.”
Parton said the industry is fortunate the lockdown occurred as the season was winding down in April rather than coming to peak in spring.
“There was a number of people who saw the writing on the wall and said, ‘sorry mate, we’re off’ and got out and got home quick, which is completely understandable.”
