RAIDS will take place on about 1000 horticultural properties around Australia in the coming months to ensure workers are not being exploited.

The Fair Work Ombudsman's office will conduct random audits of growers next month and in June to see if they are abiding by the new horticulture award and new national employment standards.

The FWO officials will also keep an eye out for illegal migrant workers and alert the federal immigration department for follow-up action if required.

A spokesman for the FWO said the audits followed an extensive education campaign involving a guide for employers, self-audit tools and information seminars.

"We'll be checking the level of compliance in the wake of this educational push," the spokesman said.

Apple and Pear Australia Ltd general manager Tony Russell said he hoped the audit would not turn into a witch hunt.

"We hope it's primarily treated as an education process," Mr Russell said.

"There's been a lot of changes and it's been difficult for employers to keep across everything.

"So where there are minor problems, they shouldn't be slammed too heavily, there's a need for some leeway."

The move comes amid reports of some growers resorting to illegal migrants or under-paid workers in a bid to keep costs down in a tough commercial environment.

National Farmers' Federation workplace policy manager Denita Wawn said there had been stories of shonky employers bringing in busloads of workers to work at rates that did not comply with workplace relations laws.

"This has apparently involved migrant workers without proper visas or local labour being paid below-award wages," Mrs Wawn said. "Employers should be aware that if they do this intentionally, they'll be liable for prosecution."

The developments come as the Federal Government's Pacific Guest Worker Scheme struggles to attract much employer interest in its second year.

It is understood only about 30 workers are coming to Australia, mainly from Tonga, to work in Queensland and around Swan Hill.

Mrs Wawn said the extra costs of pastoral care involved for employers on top of the need to pay award rates was a factor, along with larger numbers of locally available workers.

"It's a pity because the extra costs are not that huge, and the benefit is you get workers for the whole season and for subsequent seasons as well," she said.