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

2024 red meat exports end on a high

New Zealand's red meat exports for 2024 finished on a positive note, with total export value increasing 17% over last December to reach $1.04 billion, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).

Featured

LIC Space folds for good

Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.

Editorial: Time for common sense

OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Are they serious?

OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…

A hurry up!

OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter