Changes allow fruit pickers to work other jobs
Help — at last — for stranded seasonal workers
Hawke’s Bay’s Recognised Seasonal Employers and migrant seasonal workers will now be able to continue working and supporting themselves with more flexible hours and roles.
Immigration Minister Iain LeesGalloway also announced the cap on the number of workers allowed into NZ scheme will no longer rise as intended next year.
Each year up to 14,400 workers, mainly from Pacific Island nations, fill seasonal labour shortages in NZ’s horticulture and viticulture industries.
Lees-Galloway said around 9000 seasonal workers were still in New Zealand, a number of those stranded with no flights home and no way to support themselves after the harvest season had ended.
“The Government is supporting Pacific Island governments to repatriate their citizens but many are expected to remain in New Zealand for some time,” he said.
“RSE visas limit workers to specific work, which is now drying up.
“The RSE scheme is part of our special relationship with the Pacific. As a country, we have a responsibility to support these workers and their employers, whose pastoral care responsibilities include accommodation for the workers.
“We are facing a rise in unemployment among New Zealanders and we expect more New Zealanders to be available for work next season,” said Lees-Galloway.
“For this reason, the Government has decided to keep the RSE scheme annual cap at 14,400 for the next year.
“I want to give employers in the horticulture and viticulture industries as much certainty as possible in uncertain times, so I have taken the decision now even though next season’s workers will only be able to enter New Zealand when it is safe to relax border restrictions.”
Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman said HortNZ welcomed increased government support and flexibility for RSE workers who are still in New Zealand waiting for repatriation back to the Pacific islands, but the decisions should have come a lot earlier.
“We really needed these government decisions three months ago.
“While local communities have rallied to support RSE workers, government’s delays have caused RSE workers and their employers unnecessary anxiety and cost.”
Chapman said of the approximately 9000 RSE workers still in New Zealand, 4000 were waiting to get home.
“Summerfruit NZ, NZ Apples and Pears, NZ Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated and
HortNZ have worked with the Government to find ways to get these workers home safely and as quickly as possible,” he said.
“More than 1000 RSE workers have made it home thanks to these efforts, which continue.”
He said although it was good these workers were now going home, it was important the RSE scheme, operating for more than 10 years, continued as it supported New Zealand and the Pacific nations.
“As horticulture spearheads New Zealand post-Covid recovery, skilled RSE workers in similar numbers to this year will be needed to complement the New Zealanders entering the horticulture industry for the first time,” Chapman said.
“At the same time, the RSE scheme is vital to the Pacific.
“The scheme enables these workers to earn money to support their families back home, set up businesses, and build storm-proof houses, schools and community facilities.” From July 1, struggling foreign nationals could also apply for assistance to meet basic needs including food and accommodation, with the aid of DIA and Red Cross.
New Zealand Red Cross project lead Rachel O’Connor said the temporary assistance would meet “urgent humanitarian need” across the country.
The programme will run for three months.
Internal Affairs deputy chief executive Maria Robertson said the assistance would help those in a difficult position in New Zealand.
“There are people in Aotearoa on temporary visas, who are unfortunately unable to meet their own basic needs and have exhausted all other options,” she said.