Gurmesh Singh claims blueberry picker exploitation down to “a few bad apples”

NSW Nationals leader and former blueberry farmer Gurmesh Singh believes worker exploitation in the blueberry industry is “not very widespread” and the result of a small number of “shonky operators”. 

• “But, if even one percent of [blueberry] workers are experiencing illegal behaviour in this area, then that's far too many,” the Coffs Harbour MP told the Mid North Coaster on Wednesday. 

However, the state’s Anti-slavery Commissioner, Dr James Cockayne, argued the mistreatment of vulnerable workers was far more widespread.

• "The exploitation of vulnerable workers in regional NSW is not a new issue, nor is it confined to a handful of bad actors," Dr Cockayne said.
  
  “[There is a] system of labour exploitation that many people … have been aware of for years. Through intimidation and ineffective coordination between law enforcement and regulatory authorities, a culture of silence has taken hold." 

National attention: An ABC Four Corners report this week alleged serious mistreatment of blueberry pickers on the Mid North Coast, including workers being underpaid, refused toilet breaks and living in squalid conditions.

The Coffs Harbour region is home to more than 65 percent of Australia’s blueberry crop.

Failure of enforcement: Singh said laws governing worker pay and conditions are “actually quite robust”, and those still “falling through the cracks” were evidence of poor enforcement. 

• “The enforcement agencies need to continue to do their jobs,” said Singh,  who held senior roles in the blueberry industry before entering politics. 

“I've got a degree of confidence that rules are being followed, but obviously there is work to be done on weeding out those bad operators and the dodgy labour hire companies.” 

Federal issue: Singh claims labour hire licensing should be a Commonwealth responsibility, however he expects New South Wales to bring in its own scheme soon.

He reckons the days of dodgy operators “are numbered”. 

• “Through increased regulation at the state level, like what we saw in Victoria and Queensland, they're not going to be able to continue these operations for much longer.

“This hurts the people who are being exploited, but it also hurts those in the industry ... who are having their reputations tarnished by the actions of a few bad apples."

Government response: The state government has said it is "monitoring a potential system of illegal labour exploitation” on some North Coast berry farms. 

SafeWork NSW has conducted a number of unannounced inspections of berry farms across the region in recent days.

Image credit: Gurmesh Singh FB.