Australia Inviting Students and Backpackers to Mitigate Lack of Workforce

Australia threw out an invitation to backpackers on Wednesday, seeking reinforcements for a workforce crippled by an Omicron COVID-19 outbreak as the country's health system creaks under the pandemic's strain.

– Move all the way around the country, and the same time join our workforce and help us in our agricultural sector, in our hospitality sector, and so many of the other parts of the economy that rely on that labor – stated Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a televised press conference.

Morrison said his government was waiving the AUD 630 (USD 453) visa application fee for any backpacker or student who arrives in Australia within the next 12 weeks, and encouraged them to seek work as they tour the country, Reuters reports.

Australian businesses are grappling with the growing toll of workers out sick or ordered to isolate as close contacts.

The labor crunch has created supply shortages, leading major grocers to reinstate purchase limits on essentials, and is hampering the country's economic recovery.

The call was issued the same day as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised against travel to Australia and 21 other countries because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Officials reported 67 new deaths and nearly 80,000 new cases on Wednesday.

The country suffered its deadliest day with 77 fatalities from the virus on Tuesday, and Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly said Australians should expect the pandemic's overall death toll to rise further from the current 2,843.

The call for backpackers comes as Morrison faces criticism at the beginning of an election year over his handling of an outbreak of the Omicron COVID-19 variant that has seen record numbers of new infections and deaths, Reuters adds.

Australian government

Scott Morrison

workforce

workers

students

backpackers

visa

pandemic

coronavirus

fatality rate

number of infection cases