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Layered vulnerability: Temporary migrants in Australian horticulture

journal contribution
posted on 2016-11-01, 00:00 authored by Elsa UnderhillElsa Underhill, M Rimmer
Australian horticulture (fruit and vegetable production) relies upon a seasonal harvest workforce, much of which now consists of temporary migrant workers. This article argues that the composition of this workforce and the character of the work lead towards layered vulnerability, some groups being more exposed to low pay and substandard working conditions than others. Formally at least, employment conditions are generally protected by the federal Horticulture Award (2010). But are decent employment standards consistently observed? The article explores this question, examining three issues. First, does analysis of workforce composition reveal different tiers in the workforce, some more vulnerable than others? Second, do the casual nature of harvest work and the job search processes used by temporary migrant workers create disadvantaged groups? Third, does evidence about pay, working hours and work intensity reveal some workers to be more vulnerable than others? The article concludes with an examination of those factors that appear to be associated with layered vulnerability in the harvest workforce, and considers some policy implications

History

Journal

Journal of industrial relations

Volume

58

Issue

5

Pagination

608 - 626

Publisher

Sage

Location

London, Eng.

ISSN

0022-1856

eISSN

1472-9296

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2016, Sage