Papua New Guineans are gaining an excellent reputation in Australia’s meat processing industry as hardworking and loyal workers, especially in areas like Cootamundra, NSW where local staff have been hard to find.
Labour hire company Whales Workforce travelled to PNG in April to interview 60 applicants for roles in the Cootamundra meat plant and found the quality of applicants to be exceptionally high. General Manager Mario Marinelli said they could have hired nearly all the candidates.
“One of the candidates said he was there to represent the interests of his family, and he would not give up until he succeeds for them,” he said.
“I think that sort of determination deserves a chance.”
PNG is the most populous country in the Pacific with an estimated population of 11.8 million, which means employers in the PALM and RSE schemes can build long-term working relationships.
“We were drawn to PNG because of the sheer size in comparison to the rest of the Pacific,” he said.
“The large population means there is potential for PNG relationships to be sustained for a long time.”
Mario said it was important to be up front with the candidates about how tough it was working in the Australian meat processing sector.
A typical shift at an abattoir starts before dawn. Some roles require heavy lifting, bending, and standing for long periods of time. Others include tasks such as counting and placing packages onto trays and racks, recording information, and cleaning machinery, equipment and containers.
“We still make sure applicants know it is a tough, dirty and demanding job. We do not dress up the work,” Mario said.
Director of PNG’s Labour Mobility Unit Hakaua Harry said Papua New Guineans who wanted to join the PALM scheme needed to understand the realities of working in Australia.
"In PNG, we can have a more relaxed approach to work and life but in Australia it is quite different,” she said.
“You have to turn up to work on time and keep up with your colleagues. There are a lot of rules around safety, which are there to protect you and the people you work with.
“You must work five or six days a week at specific times, start and finish on time, and all meals and breaks are scheduled. It’s important to have a good attitude, show up each day, be willing to learn, and ask questions if you don’t understand something,” she said.
"The salaries are better than here in PNG, but the cost of food, accommodation, transport and other essentials are also higher.
"You will need to budget carefully and stick to your goals. And while long-term workers can take paid holiday leave each year, you’ll need to pay your airfares home if you want to see your family.
“But for those who are willing to work hard, the rewards are also great, not only for the workers but also for their families and communities.”