Managed labour

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Raitech manage labour crews in the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA). Small weeding crews of working-holiday travellers initially serviced commercial chia crops. The program has since grown into large teams of both, working-holiday travellers and East Timorese Seasonal Workers with Raitech's support and sponsorship. Work crews are co-ordinated, transported and trained by Raitech to allow growers more time for other farm operations.
The first year of Seasonal Worker work crews in the ORIA was a big success with workers moving in to service Ord Stage Two crops. The number of Timorese working in the ORIA more than doubled in the second year of Raitech's management, with more growers interested in the advantages of using seasonal workers.
Benefits of using Seasonal Workers include;

• Timorese workers are adapted to the weather as Timor Leste has a similar climate to Kununurra.
• As a nation, Timorese are still very connected to agriculture with 90% living via subsistence farming.
• There is no limit to the number of times Seasonal Workers can return to the ORIA.
• A large pool of workers is available to choose from.
• Growers indirectly contribute to the economic development of a neighbouring country.

Raitech’s managed labour provision service has diversified from weeding into;

• Stick and stone-picking.
• Crop protection, including bird scaring and insect scouting.
• Sorghum, quinoa and corn rogueing.
• Irrigation, including siphon management.
• Melon and pumpkin picking.