Every week, fortnight or month, New Zealand workers pack their bags and wave goodbye to family and friends to fly in and fly out of overseas destinations. Though they are lured by big money, there are a few caveats, writes Shane Gilchrist.
Wanted: people willing to work in remote locations, far away from friends and family; must be able to adhere to a roster involving a fixed number of days at worksite followed by a fixed number of days at home. PS: the money is good.
Advertisements for fly-in, fly-out (Fifo) workers, many of whom head to mining sites in Australia, might not read exactly as above, but the message remains the same: if you are prepared to leave behind your loved ones and fly thousands of miles to a foreign workplace, you will be compensated - often handsomely.
Several people involved in Fifo-type work, both in Australia and the Pacific, spoke to the Otago Daily Times about the lure of six-figure salaries; add in an exchange rate that further fattens the purse and the cost-benefit analysis (money versus time away from family) is skewed even more.
One man disclosed a before-tax salary of $A1000 ($NZ1300) a day; another said he could earn up to $A130,000 ($NZ168,000) per annum in a mining pit, but up to $A180,000 ($NZ233,000) in construction, one of many industries bubbling on the back of Australia's current resource sector boom.
"The way it's going, I'll be semi-retired by the time I'm 50. I want to hang up my mining boots and live a normal life," says one, adding: "Some guys who have started doing this in their mid-20s want to go back to New Zealand and retire at 40."
But such quotes often came with a warning. Some employers only pay for airfares to and from a city nearest the worksite, meaning international flights (and other costs) are borne by the employee; some pay for accommodation (often in small, prefabricated units colloquially known as "dongas"), but others do not.
Says another Fifo worker: "In the Pilbara, where I've worked a lot, one house I lived in (thankfully, paid for by the company) cost $A13,000 ($NZ16,800) in rent per month.
I've stayed in camps where they have charged $A270 ($NZ350) a night for dinner, bed and breakfast. You can get a nice hotel in Queenstown for the same sort of money.
"It depends on your circumstances. You need to understand whether the company is paying for your flights and accommodation."
Douglas Foster, director of employment agency Reciprocus, which was set up three months ago with the aim of recruiting Fifo workers for jobs in Western Australia, says he is aware of at least 3000 New Zealanders who are prepared to pay their own way to and from Perth in order to get a foot in the door of the mining industry.
"I have lived in Perth for 25 years and over the past two years have seen a huge increase in Kiwis migrating to live here because of the work and higher incomes.
"The sad part is that a lot of our families are leaving our beautiful country and although conditions are better here, it is not as easy as people think to get the higher-paid jobs. A lot of our people end up with lower incomes and are still struggling here.
"Reciprocus decided to set up a network where we will fly in and fly out the workers only, leaving the families back in New Zealand. In turn, the money earned in Australia is taken back to New Zealand. Of course, although people pay tax in Australia, they make up for that with the better exchange rate.
"Workers have the capability of earning between $A70,000 and $A150,000 per annum ... the cost of an airfare is nothing," he said.
Six-figure pay packets still aren't enough for some
In August last year, the Australian Government announced an inquiry into fly-in, fly-out and drive-in, drive-out workforce practices.
According to one parliamentary hearing into the industry, one in three fly-in, fly-out workers quit within a year of starting work at mine sites in Western Australia.
In response to the announcement of the current inquiry, the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government has undertaken a scoping study, providing a summary of key issues raised in prior reviews.
Adverse effects suggested in studies include:
• Increased stress levels and poor health including depression, binge drinking, recreational drug use and obesity;
• Poor-quality relationships leading to increased break-ups and divorce; *Family disruption and stress;
• Reduced social and community interaction by Fifo workers.
• Reduced socialisation by partners;
• Feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Beneficial impacts of Fifo-type work on employees and their families include:
• Improved financial circumstances from high wages and lower living costs of living away from mining based towns thereby lowering financial stress.
• The availability of cheap housing for Fifo workers at worksites.
• The opportunity for workers to make lifestyle choices for themselves and their families.
*Uninterrupted blocks of time enable Fifo workers to spend better quality time with their partners and families or to pursue volunteer, recreational or leisure activities.
• A heightened sense of empowerment by Fifo employee partners.
