Dear FICA Members, Sponsors & Industry
Last month I started out by saying how just in a month export market prices had dropped dramatically but life has continued to challenge us again – COVID Level 4 lock down for the last few weeks has been something else! With the outbreaks in the Auckland region, we recognise our workforce and contractors that this will continue to impact and hope that a change in alert levels next week will see the forest sector back to work. There are many sectors hurting this time round and the financial implications seem extreme, listening to the flower sector, the hospitality sector, and gyms and even when we go back into Level 2 tomorrow, these industries are impacted by the new DELTA Level 2 criteria.
Someone asked the other day why we were not as an industry able to work at Level 4 and why was there not more being done by national organisations with government. It made me realise that unless the industry churns over communications to our own people, genuine concern that forestry is not working behind the scenes is real. Let me dispel that myth, and tell you that during lock down, there has been a lot of time spent on ZOOMs and calls and working with MPI and other forestry groups NZFOA & NZIF & NZFFA to work away proactively to gain exemptions and dispensations.
The greatest barrier is that COVID alerts are set against the Health Order and people come first, economic impact is deemed secondary. However, times are a changing and when the vaccination levels are high enough to satisfy the “herd approach” then there has to be greater emphasis on economic viability and sustainability of NZ. It is not just forestry, but many primary sectors are starting to see their supply chains break and this will have longer term effects than COVID lock downs!
FICA look forward to meeting with Minister Nash tomorrow, unfortunately a ZOOM does not compare to face to face but we have a list of key topics to discuss that represent challenges for our sector so will keep you posted.
Thanks to all the silviculture contractors that worked their way through the 2500+ registrations made through the $10,000 12-week Challenge Campaign. Results from the survey showed:
- due to workforce shortfalls 30% of you were not going to meet your contracts for 2021
- 60% have been able to use the MSD-FICA Subsidy again
- Just 15% of you were able to engage anyone from the campaign
- Three main reasons why not: people were not available when contacted, not drug free or contractors did not need people
Next week we will be launching an MSD-FICA Harvesting Subsidy that offers $7,400 per person new into that sector group so watch this space.
Despite the activities over the last few weeks, we are feeling positive about the return to Level 1 by October and the possibility of staging indoor events over 100 so we encourage your registration to our conferences, both the Safetree Conference and the FICA AGM - Conference. We close registrations end of September so sign up for this at your soonest.
And hey lets celebrate its spring and summer is just around the corner, warmer days and daylight saving this month 26 September.
Kia tūpato - Take care
Prue & FICA Board
Prue Younger
CEO, FICA
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