Industry – Agriculture & Farming

Keeping your farm’s payroll in check – rain, hail, or shine

our industry agriculture farming

Agricultural payroll is notoriously tricky, with a workforce that’s constantly shifting due to seasonal demand, visa restrictions, and complex award requirements. Wages are governed by multiple modern awards, each with its own classifications, penalty rates, and entitlements, making payroll compliance a moving target. Managing a mix of casual, piece-rate, and full-time employees adds another layer of complexity, particularly as legislative changes continue to reshape employer obligations.

A significant portion of the industry’s workforce is made up of temporary migrants and seasonal workers under working holiday and labour mobility schemes. These workers are often at higher risk of misclassification, underpayment, and missed entitlements like overtime and superannuation. The widespread use of piece-rate payments in horticulture has been a major compliance challenge, leading to increased scrutiny from Fair Work and tighter enforcement measures.

For many agricultural businesses operating in remote and regional locations, payroll management is often stretched thin, making errors more likely. As audits continue to uncover high rates of underpayment across the sector, compliance is no longer just about getting wages right, it’s about protecting businesses from costly fines and legal action.

With new laws introducing criminal penalties for wage theft, the stakes have never been higher.

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Key Industry Statistics and Risks

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Over 300,000 workers
in agriculture

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Migrant workers are 40% more likely to be underpaid than long-term residents due to lack of legal knowledge and visa-related job dependency.

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Significant reliance on seasonal and migrant workers.

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Agricultural workers, especially migrants, are at high risk of underpayment and exploitation.

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Payroll errors lead to Fair Work investigations in over 50% of cases.

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70% of agricultural employers hiring temporary workers had breached workplace laws.

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Common payroll challenges in agriculture & farming:

As with other industries, there are specific challenges commonly faced by businesses operating within the agriculture and farming sector, including:

  • Managing seasonal workforce

    Fluctuating staff numbers create payroll complexity.

  • Award complexity

    Piece rate rules, overtime, and allowances vary significantly.

  • Superannuation & leave entitlements

    Casuals and seasonal workers have specific requirements.

  • Migrant & visa workers

    Employers must meet strict compliance for international workers

If you’re facing payroll challenges like these as part of your operations, reach out to the Audit My Payroll team – stay ahead of compliance challenges and reduce risk:

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How Audit My Payroll Helps Your Business

We’re here to safeguard you from payroll compliance risks, alleviating the stress of navigating complex regulations. With our expert support and purpose-built solutions on your side, you can feel confident and at ease in your payroll processes.

Here’s what we can do for your business:

  • Ensure award compliance

    We help you correctly apply Horticulture and Pastoral Award regulations.

  • Payslip & timesheet audits

    Prevent errors before they escalate into penalties.

  • Real-time compliance tracking

    Stay ahead of regulatory changes.

  • Migrant worker compliance

    Avoid costly fines by meeting visa payroll requirements.

  • Seamless payroll auditing

    Reduce manual work and improve accuracy.

Stay on top of payroll compliance, book your obligation free demo or speak with the Audit My Payroll team today:

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industry agriculture farming

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