Sheep-shearing is one of the toughest jobs in Australia

В Австралії - через погані робочі умови та низьку платню - бракує стригалів вівець. Колишні стригалі спокушуються вищесплачуваними роботами у шахтарському секторі, який наразі переживає бум. З Сиднея повідомив кореспондент Бі-Бі-Сі Філ Мерсер:

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Australia's sheep shearers have been deserting the industry in droves. The most recent figures show that between 2003 and 2006 almost a quarter walked away. The shearing sheds have faced tough competition from Australia's mining sector, which has experienced unprecedented growth. It's offered better wages and less demanding working conditions.

Shearing is often a back-breaking job where thousands of kilograms of sheep meat are shifted every day. Joe Sullivan from research company Australian Wool Innovation says workers continue to leave the industry.

JOE SULLIVAN
"Let's be honest - one, it's a hard, physical job. Shearers have a limited lifespan in the role but also because of competing industries and with the resources boom, we're having quite a significant demand for labour from the mining industry."

Australia's long-standing drought has reduced sheep numbers and although farmers need fewer shearers there still aren't enough to go round. Efforts are being made to attract new recruits and increase productivity. There are training courses around the country and researchers are looking at ways to make the job easier.

A good shearer can get through 200 sheep a day, but the punishing work often leads to chronic back pain and other injuries.

Послухати слова

sheep shearers
стригалі вівець

deserting
залишають, кидають

in droves
масово

unprecedented
безпрецедентне

shifted
переносяться, пересуваються з місця на місце

boom
бум, швидке зростання

long-standing drought
довготермінова посуха

aren't enough to go round
недостатньо, щоб виконувати всю необхідну роботу

the punishing work
виснажлива праця

chronic back pain
хронічний біль у спині