AustraliaAn Australian avocado packing facility in Manjimup, Western Australia, has invested $17 million in robotic technology to automate tasks such as scanning, stacking, and palletizing avocados. This automation has led to a reduction of approximately 40-50 workers, with the facility now operating at 75% automation and significantly increasing its weekly output from 1 million to 2.52 million kilograms. The move comes amid rising labor costs and challenges in finding local workers, though the facility still employs some manual labor for tray packing. While operators praise the efficiency and safety benefits of automation, unions and labor experts express concerns about the impact on employment, particularly as the facility previously relied on migrant workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of automation's impact on both productivity and employment, citing perspectives from management, growers, and labor experts. It does not take a clear ideological stance on automation or immigration policies, focusing instead on factual reporting of the economic,劳
