Fiji and New Zealand have reiterated their commitment to enhancing labor mobility partnerships through high-level discussions in Wellington this week. Fijian Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations, Agni Deo Singh, engaged with New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters, to address the welfare of Fijian workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.
Currently, nearly 1,000 Fijians are employed in New Zealand through the RSE scheme, reflecting significant growth from earlier years. The discussions also included New Zealand’s Minister for Immigration, Erica Stanford, focusing on better management and support for Fijian nationals partaking in the program. As part of the visit, officials will directly engage with RSE workers in Tauranga and Hawke’s Bay, gathering valuable feedback and assessing working conditions onsite.
The Ministry of Employment in Fiji emphasized that this engagement underscores the ongoing efforts to safeguard the welfare of Fijian workers overseas and improve regional labor mobility programs. Accompanying Singh are Acting Permanent Secretary Atish Kumar, Manager of Foreign Employment Services Gaayetri Prasad, and senior officials from the Ministry of Employment, alongside officials from New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
This commitment mirrors recent developments in enhancing the support for Fijian workers abroad, as highlighted by Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, during a previous visit, where he acknowledged the importance of improving conditions for workers within the RSE scheme.
Through these initiatives and ongoing dialogs between the two nations, there is a promising outlook for Fijian workers in New Zealand’s agricultural sector, embodying mutual benefits and continued cooperation that can lead to better livelihoods and increased cultural exchange.
The collaborative efforts from both Fiji and New Zealand signal a hopeful future for labor mobility, and illustrate a shared vision for economic strength and stability within the Pacific region, fostering resilient ties that benefit both countries.
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