Rich pickings

A Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruling in November that could see casual fruit pickers paid $25.41 per hour as a minimum has generated plenty of controversy in the past month.

In a Full Bench decision, the FWC ruled in favour of a bid by the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) to amend the Horticulture Award, and particularly the clause that dealt with pieceworker rates.

A piece rate is when pickers are paid in accordance with the quantity of fruit picked, or vegetables harvested.

However, multiple reports have emerged suggesting employers are paying staff, often backpackers