Regional Migration Australia successfully helps regional horticulture businesses
Last week our Registered Migration Agent, Kristie Morgan (MARN 1068715) was very pleased to inform one of our Victorian regional farmers that their request to access the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement was approved by the Department of Home Affairs.
Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement (HILA)
The Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement, which commenced in January 2021, can be used by Australian employers for the following:
- Sponsor overseas workers for the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) (subclass 482) visa for a total of 31 approved occupations.
- Sponsor overseas workers for permanent residency under the:
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) (subclass 494) visa program with a permanent pathway to a Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) available after three years; or
- Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) visa program after a three or four year transitional period on a TSS visa—three years for approved Skill Level 1-3 occupations and four years for approved Skill Level 4-5 occupations.
Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement terms and concessions
| Approved occupation | ANZSCO Code or nearest equivalent | ANZSCO Skill Level | Positive Skills Assessment | TSMIT Concession | English Concession | Permanent Pathway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irrigation Designer/ Manager | 234111* | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Agronomist | 234112 | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Entomologist | 234518* | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Horticulture Grower | 070499* | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Protected Cropping Grower | 070499* | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Horticulture Research & Development Officer | 132511* | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mechanical Engineer | 233512 | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Horticulture Farm Manager | 070499* | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quality Assurance Manager | 139914 | 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Biosecurity Officer | 311399* | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Facility Plant Manager | 149913* | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Facility Supervisor | 070499* | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maintenance Electrician | 341111* | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fitter and Welder | 323213 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Agriculture Technician | 321212* | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mechanic | 321211* | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Senior Nurseryperson | 362411 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nurseryperson | 362411 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nursery Supervisor | 362411 | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Truck Driver | 733111 | 4 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Plant Operator | 721111 | 4 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fork Lift Driver | 721311 | 4 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Irrigationist | 841999 | 5 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Irrigationist Assistant | 841999 | 5 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Horticulture Section Manager | 070499* | 5 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Section Supervisor | 070499* | 4 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Production Horticulture Supervisor | 070499* | 4 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Production Horticulturist | 070499* | 3 | Yes^ | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Machinery Manager | 149913 or 149999* | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Machinery Supervisor | 149999* | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cold Storage Manager | 149999* | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Note: Labour market testing requirements for the standard TSS and SESR visa programs will need to be met.
* Where an occupation in the table above does not exist in ANZSCO, the closest equivalent occupation available under ANZSCO has been utilised. Where no close equivalent exists, code 070499 is used with the relevant skills/qualifications specified under the terms of each Labour Agreement.
^ Skill and qualification requirements will differ from those stipulated in ANZSCO and will be specified under the terms of each Labour Agreement.
Next Steps for this regional business
Now that our client has successfully established access to the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement, they can now proceed to nominate an international worker and proceed with a visa application. This is very exciting news for this business, which has struggled to secure workers from the local labour market. The business will now have access to these workers for up to five years under the agreement, providing significant peace of mind to this regional business which has faced significant challenges with semi-skilled labour over recent years (and particularly during the COVID19 pandemic).
Regional Migration Australia can help horticulture businesses across Australia
If you are horticulture business owner and are struggling to recruit any of the occupations listed above, contact Regional Migration Australia for advice on how you can secure access to the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement.
The above agreement was approved within one month of submission, with no further information required by the Department. With significant migration and economic development experience, our team were able to provide a strong submission outlining the genuine need for these positions, resulting in a fantastic outcome for our client.
Contact us now for information on how we can help your horticulture business.
I am a qualified horticulturist (Masters Degree), with over 9 years experience in teaching at university level (undergraduate & postgraduate). I am a South African and interested in relocating and working in Australia. Can you please advise where I could send my resume, if possible?
Hi Angelique, thanks for contacting us. We would be delighted to assist. The best way to provide information to us is through our enquiry form which is located here: https://regionalmigration.mmportal.cloud/assessment/enquiry/general-enquiry#nav-top
We will be able to provide you with some preliminary feedback on your options. Looking forward to chatting to you soon! Cheers, Kristie Morgan (MARN 1068715).