Event Session
Case Study - Viterra workforce and housing impacts
Description
- Viterra is one of Australia’s largest buyers of agricultural commodities, employing around 2,200 permanent and casual staff across multiple locations in South Australia.
- While COVID-19 did not impact Viterra’s export operations, Alyson highlighted its significant effect, combined with housing shortages, on attracting and retaining staff.
- Since the start of the pandemic, the number of candidates for seasonal employment has declined noticeably.
- In the past 12 months, Viterra has spent approximately $80 million on wages.
- An additional $1.8 million has been spent on accommodation for casual workers and contractors relocating to regions during harvest.
- Current accommodation options include hotels, caravan parks, and limited local housing.
- Viterra has identified the need for long-term accommodation planning to support its workforce now and into the future.
- After assessing options ranging from no action through to leasing or purchasing dongas or houses, and considering impacts on local communities, Viterra adopted a multi-pronged strategy.
- This strategy includes investing in a long-term accommodation project.
- Working with councils to establish permanent worker accommodation that can be shared across industries in regional areas.
- Establishing short-term accommodation options during the harvest period in localised areas.
- Exploring ways to better utilise existing accommodation available during harvest in certain locations.
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