Tuesday, 15 August 2023 09:03

Labour shortages easing

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Meat processing sector labour shortages are easing with more migrant workers joining the ranks. Meat processing sector labour shortages are easing with more migrant workers joining the ranks.

Labour shortages in the meat processing sector are easing with more migrant workers joining the ranks.

Under the Accredited Employer Work Visa programme, meat companies are finding it easier to source migrant workers, says the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

It claims that labour shortages cost the meat sector $600 million in lost exports over the past two years – due to carcasses not being fully processed and valuable co-products like tripe and offal being put to one side.

MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says the sector has seen improvements this year.

“It’s getting easier now to source migrant workers,” she told Rural News. “We are still short of workers and there are some delays in processing visas, but the labour situation is improving.”

Another labour issue being dealt with by NZ meat processors is availability of halal butchers. Two cohorts of halal butchers have been trained in Fiji and Indonesia and are being recruited by processors.

Karapeeva says halal butchers need unique skillsets – both technical and religious attributes.

The halal butchers in Fiji and Indonesia have been trained to meet NZ requirements and qualifications.

Halal certified products contribute $4.1 billion of annual export earnings. Processing companies across New Zealand rely on 250 halal butchers, who make up just 1% of the total workforce.

Karapeeva says the sector can typically recruit only 100 halal butchers domestically due to this country’s small Muslim population and the nature of the job.

“A religious component is a fundamental part of the job because they must be a practicing Muslim, which we obviously cannot train for. We have no other choice but to look overseas to fill the vacancies,” she says.

“Halal processing helps our industry capture greater value for our products.”

She adds that having each animal processed by a halal butcher means that different parts of the same carcass can be sent to various markets around the world.

“Halal processing helps our industry capture greater value for our products. Having each animal processed by a halal butcher means that different parts of the same carcass can be sent to various markets around the world.”

From March this year, halal butchers were added to the Government’s Green List work to residence tier, which the MIA described as a positive first step.

This meant that halal butchers, who joined the Green List from March 2023, are able to count time on a work visa from 29 September 2021 towards their work to residence requirement.

More like this

Red meat's China push

The red meat sector is launching a new campaign to lure Chinese consumers to New Zealand grass-fed beef and lamb.

Primary sector chuffed

Meat Industry Association chair Nathan Guy says his organisation welcomes the new trade deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), noting the UAE is the second largest market for the red meat sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council after Saudi Arabia.

Featured

Better animal genetic gain system

A governance group has been formed, following extensive sector consultation, to implement the recommendations from the Industry Working Group's (IWG) final report and is said to be forming a 'road map' for improving New Zealand's animal genetic gain system.

SIDE 2025's new schedule, venue

Annual farmer gathering, the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), is set to make history as it heads to Timaru for the first time.

Taranaki piggery goes solar

Installing 400 solar panels at their Taranaki piggery and cropping operation will have significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits for the Stanley family.

Editorial: Keep FTAs coming

OPINION: The dairy industry will  be a major beneficiary of a new free trade deal between NZ and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

National

Food charity to hold online auction

Meat the Need, New Zealand’s dedicated charity delivering locally sourced protein meals to food-insecure communities, is launching an online National…

Machinery & Products

An ideal solution for larger farms

Designed specifically for large farms that want to drill with maximum flexibility, efficiency and power, the new Lemken Solitair ST…

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Leaky waka

OPINION: Was the ASB Economic Weekly throwing shade on Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr when reporting on his speech in…

Know-it-alls

OPINION: A reader recently had a shot at the various armchair critics that she judged to be more than a…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter