Migrant plan will boost skills push

The South West is one step closer to receiving special status to help combat the significant gaps in labour across key industries in the region. Manjimup Shire Council voted in favour of establishing a designated area migration agreement which would see the region classified as a hub which required greater access to skilled overseas workers if ratified. The Manjimup Shire has pledged $5000 per year towards the scheme, with the area suffering serious labour shortages across the agriculture, hospitality and tourism industries. The Shire said given the shortfalls, it was confident the DAMA would be capitalised upon by business owners in the area. Shire president Paul Omodei said the need for skilled workers across almost every industry was paramount for the Lower South West. “There’s a whole range of projects that are suitable and they include carers for health and welfare, plant operators, timber industry, technicians and other occupations, construction industry, medical and certainly hospitality,” he said. The Shire has a seasonal workers committee which works with the South West Development Commission to try to increase the number of overseas labourers in WA. Cr Omodei said the Shire was hoping the vaccine roll out would allow more overseas workers to come to the South West and find employment. “We’re hoping of course with full vaccination that there will be the beginning of the borders being opened up and if it’s not this year they’re talking about middle of 2023,” he said. If the agreement was signed by the Federal Government, it would be up to the employer to endorse the scheme by contacting the designated area representative and seeking their approval for their workers’ visas by providing evidence against a set criteria. The proposed South West DAR will be the Dardanup Shire. These labour agreements usually are in effect for five years and relate directly to the 482 temporary skills shortage visa, 494 skilled employer sponsored regional visa and the 186 employer nominated scheme visa. Shires across the South West agreed to push for a DAMA at a meeting last year.