Immigration New Zealand has given approval for Silver Fern Farms to employ 49 overseas workers in the region, although the information did not specify the figures for the company's two plants at Pareora and Belfast, Christchurch.
Work visas for 28 overseas workers at Alliance Group, which operates Smithfield at Timaru, and 18 for Anzco Foods at Ashburton have also been approved.
Secretary of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Meatworkers Union Bill Watt said he was aware local meat companies had applied to Immigration NZ to bring in 100 workers.
''All the works are desperate for people; between Oamaru to Rakaia there's only a population of around 100,000, and you've got all these big plants.
''There are more than 800 workers at Pareora, a similar number at Anzco at Ashburton, Pukeuri has close to 850 to 1000 and then you've got all the Fonterras, Synlaits and Oceanias [dairy processors].
''All these industries are screaming out for workers.
''The groups are coming mainly from the islands, Samoa and Tonga, and there are Filipinos.''
Mr Watt said the meat companies' labour shortage between Oamaru to the Rakaia had become an ongoing issue.
''We know Pareora has a number of migrant workers and have for some time. They come back year after year. They have the same rights as everyone if they can get immigration approval.
''If a company can't get enough people locally, frankly, what's the option?''
He said with so many jobs available in the region some people moved around.
''People in Auckland talk of traffic and congestion and I often think why aren't they down here?''
Alliance Smithfield's acting plant manager Ivan Docherty said they were short by almost 30 workers throughout the last processing season and with sheep and lamb processing set to start in November they needed 80 workers.
Silver Fern Farms' Pareora plant manager Bruce McNaught said they needed staff in a variety of roles on the site, including skilled knifehands, general labourers and staff in the load-out team.
Staff shortages could intensify further in South Canterbury next year given expansion plans for Oceania Dairy near Glenavy.
This could require up to 100 extra staff. At present between 260 and 270 workers are employed at Oceania.
-By Chris Tobin
