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Cotton Ginners share grower workforce shortage concerns
Cotton ginners are desperate for workers at a time when some Gins are gearing up to process up to half a million bales of cotton this season.
Australian Cotton Ginners Association Secretary Rene van der Sluijs said fresh from launching a new website and strategic plan, the Association is focussing on the immediate needs of ginning this year’s crop.
“Cotton growers have had another great year and ginning is underway, but we need reliable workers who are willing to work the long hours to get the job done, and often Australia workers are not answering the call.
“Many of our gins are operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week but lack of staff and retaining good staff is always an issue, and we need more local and overseas workers to plug the gaps.”
Cotton Australia’s Workforce policy officer Paul Sloman is focused on training and workforce attraction and retention strategies but admits there is no easy answer.
“Cotton Australia is working with governments, investigating options to fill the workforce shortage on farms and cotton gins to ensure the crops are ginned in a timely manner.
“For some reason the interest in jobs from locals in cotton communities has waned over the years but jobs in gins and on farms are an excellent introduction to a rewarding career in the Australian cotton industry and should be supported.”
