Government to increase cap on seasonal workers

The Government is to increase the numbers of workers allowed to come to New Zealand for seasonal work as Pacific nations raise alarm bells over losing their workforce.

The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme will increase its cap by 1250 people to 20,750 for the 2024/25 season.

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said lifting the cap is going to be important.

"We've worked really closely with different sectors to work out what they need for this season and landed on that 1250 extra places this year," she said.

It's a delicate balance as while the scheme provides much-needed remittances for families and Pacific economies, it's estimated that 20% of all working men in Vanuatu are working offshore.

Vanuatu's Prime Minister Charlot Salwai last week said the significant loss of labour in New Zealand and Australia was an issue being faced by a number of island countries — including his own — but the reality is the RSE scheme is a win-win in many ways.

"So we won't stop it but probably come up with some sort of quota to make sure that we have some labour in the country," he said.

Stanford said the Government is very aware of the fact that New Zealand has a good relationship with its Pacific neighbours and "we don't want to upset that balance". She said that's why it's really important to open up new markets to the RSE scheme, with Timor-Leste added to the list of countries where workers can come from.

In other changes, New Zealand companies won't have to pay workers 10% above the minimum wage unless they are experienced, and the pause on increasing accommodation costs will be lifted. Currently, employers need to pay RSE workers 30 hours a week, but the changes mean they have to give them an average of 30 hours a week over a four-week period.

But on the plus side, workers will be able to get multi-entry visas, have more flexibility, and be able to undertake training not directly related to their role.

Stanford said the Government has listened to the changes the industry wanted but "we haven't given them everything they wanted".

"We've had to compromise on some things because our relationship with the Pacific is very important."

The moves are being welcomed by the industry.

Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley said the changes will make a difference to both employers and workers "which is always a positive outcome for everyone".

She said RSE workers are a crucial part of the industry's growth and that's why it's planning on launching a pilot scheme at the end of the month to form stronger relationships with Pacific communities.

The Government is also planning on more changes to the RSE scheme next year, focussing more on worker welfare.

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