Despite an ongoing shortage of shearers throughout Australia, there remains no official increase in the award for shearers and shed hands, WoolProducers Australia announced yesterday.
“As has been widely reported, parts of Australia are experiencing a significant shortage in shearers at the moment, which in turn has seen above award rates being paid to secure shearers,” Hall said.
Any change in the award is handled by the Fair Work Commission and is subjected to a standard process before application.
WoolProducer’s announcement comes after a non-binding recommendation of the Shearing Contractors Association of Australia to their members of a 15% increase in the pay for one month.
According to Hall, paying above award rates is a commercial arrangement between the woolgrower and the shearers or shearing contractors. However, growers are not legally bound to pay above the award.
“However, unfortunately for growers there are simply not enough shearers to do the job at this point in time as with any supply and demand situation, the market must pay what is required to get the job done,” Hall added.
The agency is in talks with the SCAA, Western Shearing Industry Association, National Farmers Federation, Australian Wool Innovation and shearer trainers to work to address the current issue in the wool harvesting sector.
