New Zealand will welcome 20,750 workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme for the 2024-2025 season starting September 2. Currently, around 1,000 Fijians are employed in New Zealand through this scheme. The coalition government emphasized that the influx of workers aims to bolster the country’s horticulture and viticulture sectors.
New Zealand’s Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford, highlighted the government’s commitment to gradually increasing the number of RSE workers in response to industry needs while considering the availability of local workers and accommodation for the incoming labor.
Employers in New Zealand will need to provide workers with an average of 30 hours of work each week over a four-week period. A previously imposed pause on increases in accommodation costs will be lifted. Furthermore, the requirement for RSE employers to pay 10 percent above the minimum wage will now apply exclusively to experienced workers, acknowledging their productivity.
New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters, remarked that the RSE scheme plays a vital role in strengthening relationships within the Pacific region and has yielded significant benefits for all parties involved.