Australia. Is It Really The Lucky Country?

[Bundy]

In my work i get to meet a lot of people from different countries, mostly unskilled workers or if you like just the "average joe" from their own country.Aside from backpackers we occasionally run into people who have recently migrated to OZ.For the past few weeks we have been working with several Filipinos. One in particular who has now been in Australia for almost a year, with his wife and child. In getting to know him and what he has been through it just reinforces my belief that there is a big misconception about leaving the Philippines and working in another country.His wife can no longer work because she has to look after their boy, so it is just the husband who gets an income. He is paid $19 an hour to pick fruit. Now when they first came here they thought hmmm $19 lets see x 45 = P855 an hour........ we're going to be rich! After 12 months they are really struggling. They pay $200 a week in rent, then there's car expenses, school etc etc all payable in dollars, not pesos. The poor guy looks like he is not eating properly, i mean he's so skinny he'd have to dance around in the shower to get wet! We offer him food but usually he won't take it.I am sure that a lot of Filipinos think that just because they have landed on these shores that their worries are over, well it just doesn't happen like that.What they don't realise is that the "average" Australian has to work his entire lifetime to buid up financial security, it doesn't happen overnight. I'm sure that the relatives back in Manila are also putting pressure on them because they are now "living the good life" in Australia.They even had to borrow money to pay their embassy fees to come here and are still paying that back.Malcolm Fraser once said "life wasn't meant to be easy" I can tell you that anyone who wants to come and work here in the farming game is in for a big shock, it is bloody hard work, always has been and always will be.

[Jim Sibbick]

If he is getting $19 per hour picking, he is doing alright!Are you sure he is getting $19 per hour? I have seen many asian people who prefer to pack for $15 per hour because they can't make $15 per hour from picking.Regards: Jim

[Bundy]

If he is getting $19 per hour picking, he is doing alright!Are you sure he is getting $19 per hour? I have seen many asian people who prefer to pack for $15 per hour because they can't make $15 per hour from picking.Regards: Jim

Yep, we pay $19 per hour, we do not pay contract or piece rate. So regardless of how much fruit there is on any given day, he will always earn $19 per hour.Once experienced and doing what we consider a "good job" they will get more.

[Jim Sibbick]

If he is getting $19 per hour picking, he is doing alright!Are you sure he is getting $19 per hour? I have seen many asian people who prefer to pack for $15 per hour because they can't make $15 per hour from picking.Regards: Jim

Yep, we pay $19 per hour, we do not pay contract or piece rate. So regardless of how much fruit there is on any given day, he will always earn $19 per hour.Once experienced and doing what we consider a "good job" they will get more.

I know a few people or maybe make that a few thousand people who will be happy with $19 per hour. Where will I send them and what will they be picking?Regards; Jim

[Bruce]

I think the mistake is with the wife and kid. Unless the OFW is a nurse or equal in pay scale... they will be making enough to support themselves only AND send money back home. The key word is 'sacrifice'. Traditionally, it is the single OFW that does with 'less' to send 'more' home.In this case, that 'more' is being eaten up in costs for the wife and kid.

Edited February 28, 2012 by Bruce

[Bundy]

If he is getting $19 per hour picking, he is doing alright! Are you sure he is getting $19 per hour? I have seen many asian people who prefer to pack for $15 per hour because they can't make $15 per hour from picking. Regards: Jim

Yep, we pay $19 per hour, we do not pay contract or piece rate. So regardless of how much fruit there is on any given day, he will always earn $19 per hour.Once experienced and doing what we consider a "good job" they will get more.

I know a few people or maybe make that a few thousand people who will be happy with $19 per hour. Where will I send them and what will they be picking? Regards; Jim

Hahaha, Jim, the base rate for a fruit and/or vegetable picker in Queensland is $18.50 per hour. Some pickers prefer to work on contract and some prefer the hourly rate.In my experience it simply depends on the crop being picked, for example it would be better for a picker to be on contract picking citrus as you'll basically go through the entire orchard loaded with fruit working as fast as you can and filling as many bins as you can and they do make good money.In the case of small crops which need to be picked repeatedly over say a 6 week term however, there are way too many variables effecting the volume of harvest.In this case it is more beneficial to the picker to be on an hourly rate.Send them to me? No no no mate, i'm gettin out! I look forward to the day when i don't have to get up at 4.00am and worry about blasted smallcrops and that day is VERY near :cheersty: :)

[Bundy]

I think the mistake is with thew wife and kid. Unless the OFW is a nurse or equal in pay scale... they will me making enough to support themselves only AND send money back home. The key word is 'sacrifice'. Traditionally, it is the single OFW that does with 'less' to send 'more' home.In this case, that 'more' is being eaten up in costs for the wife and kid.

Yes Bruce you are correct. Previously his wife was working with him but other Filipinas here got in her ear and told her that she should be staying with the child ( they were leaving the boy with friends who were taking him to School ) Now they are talking about bringing the wife's sister out here so she can stay with the child.

[Bruce]

I think the mistake is with thew wife and kid. Unless the OFW is a nurse or equal in pay scale... they will me making enough to support themselves only AND send money back home. The key word is 'sacrifice'. Traditionally, it is the single OFW that does with 'less' to send 'more' home.In this case, that 'more' is being eaten up in costs for the wife and kid.

Yes Bruce you are correct. Previously his wife was working with him but other Filipinas here got in her ear and told her that she should be staying with the child ( they were leaving the boy with friends who were taking him to School ) Now they are talking about bringing the wife's sister out here so she can stay with the child.

Is it 'that' easy to simply bring another person there from the Philippines? Real issues and delays in bringing a breeding age woman from the Philippines to the US! The US government is very obstacle oriented in that matter.

[Bundy]

Is it 'that' easy to simply bring another person there from the Philippines? Real issues and delays in bringing a breeding age woman from the Philippines to the US! The US government is very obstacle oriented in that matter.

The sister is an executive with Tanduay apparently! She already has a visitor visa and has paid the appropriate bond monies.Otherwise no i think Australia is just as strict as the U.S.