An email was sent out to staff at the Department of Natural Resources and Environment - formerly DPIPWE - on Wednesday afternoon detailing a "significant campaign" to recruit senior biosecurity inspectors for Launceston, Devonport and Hobart airports.

Responses were sought by noon Friday, with training and induction to take place on Monday ahead of borders fully reopening on Wednesday.

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Hobart International Airport was mentioned as being of particular concern, given arrivals are expected to rise from a few hundred per day to 10,000 as Christmas approaches.

The email, sent by a departmental general manager, offers the positions in blocks of six weeks, but reduced weeks could be provided to manage Christmas leave, and with "appropriate penalty rates" under the award.

"If you are interest in putting up you hand to assist please let me know ASAP so I can discuss with you [sic] Manager," it reads.

"These roles are a very high priority for not only the Department and Government, but the Tasmanian community."

Job advertisements have also been listed on the Hays recruiting website for three-month contracts for biosecurity staff at Hobart International Airport, including for the Christmas period.

The Community and Public Sector Union believed the rush to find staff was due to a requirement that all arrivals be checked for vaccination status and test result, rather than just "spot checks".

CPSU Tasmania secretary Thirza White said there were concerns about the pay and conditions for staff who take on these secondment positions.

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"What we know is that the contracts are just rubbish - they're short term, they're not full-time hours, no casual loading," she said.

"Unless we're offering permanent jobs, or we're offering enough regular hours, or we're giving casual loading, we're not giving ourselves the best chance to get people at such a short notice."

There were also concerns about staff only being paid for missed shifts should they be required to quarantine, rather than paid each day.

"If they're in quarantine for 14 days, they should be paid for 14 days," Ms White said.

"Some of these workers have been responsible for Tasmania not going into lockdown and they deserve these conditions."

Premier Peter Gutwein said he was unaware of the email when asked during Thursday's COVID briefing.

A Biosecurity Tasmania spokesperson said it was providing "further capacity" to border operations.

"This is not unusual and is a normal part of rolling recruitment efforts that happens regularly to manage peak periods at the borders and to ensure backup staff are available to cover periods of staff absences including unplanned leave," the spokesperson said.

"However, to be clear, there will be sufficient staff available ahead of December 15.

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"In relation to the internal request for staff to volunteer for border team leader roles this was about providing even more support to the border operation team, it is up to individual staff if they want to put their hand up to undertake this work."

Labor workplace relations spokesperson Sarah Lovell said the government appeared unprepared for the borders to reopen.

"We have known for some time that our critical biosecurity staff are under-resourced and stretched to the limit - so why has such an important element of Tasmania's frontline in COVID prevention and preparedness been left until the 11th hour?" she said.

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