10 February 2009

Australia needs thousands of butchers

Australia, New Zealand and Canada are in desperate need of approximately 10,000 butchers to plug their skills shortages, reports Businessworld.

A spokesperson from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said meat factories and restaurants are desperate for skilled butchers to move to Australia, Canada and New Zealand to cut sheep and cattle for the countries' exports, which are struggling to fill positions with local residents. 

According to TESDA, local workers are looking for positions higher than a meat cutter and are therefore not taking the jobs available.  The meat processing industry is now calling on Asia's excess labour to help fill the skilled workers gaps.  

"That’s why the meat industries in these countries are sending out feelers to neighbouring countries in Asia to fill up the thousands of job openings for butchers there," Elmer K. Talavera, TESDA regional director, said.

TESDA is offering a skills development course that will run for six weeks and will prepare prospective skilled workers to work as a meat cutter.

For those thinking of emigrating to Australia, the Australian government runs a highly successful General Skilled Migration programme for skilled workers.  Skilled workers with a job offer in Australia have a much higher chance of having their Australian visa application accepted, and it is recommended that sponsorship be secured before applying for a permanent Australian visa.

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The Australian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with emigrating to Australia.