WELLINGTON (Pacnews) — A scheme allowing Pacific people to work temporarily in New Zealand will make a huge difference to the horticulture and viticulture industries which have been starved of seasonal workers, industry representatives said.
Tonga’s Prime Minister Fred Sevele has also said the scheme will be a “win-win” for Tongan people wanting employment, and the New Zealand economy.
The government here launched its “recognized seasonal employer” policy which will allow employers to recruit seasonal workers from Pacific states when they cannot fill vacancies with kiwis.
New Zealand Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said employers will have to operate good workplace practices and pay market rates.
Employers will need to apply to recruit workers from Pacific states to work in the horticulture and viticulture industries.
Workers wanting to come here will need seasonal work visas, must clear health and character requirements and show they will leave New Zealand once their seasonal work has ended.
Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu have been chosen to “kick start” the policy but employers will be able to recruit from other Pacific Islands Forum member nations including Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.
The number of seasonal Pacific workers is being initially capped at 5,000 a year although this might be adjusted later if necessary.
Social Development Minister David Benson-Pope said at the policy launch on Monday that employers will have to try to get kiwi workers first.
But if they cannot find enough New Zealand workers, they can then look to Pacific states.
Under the policy, employers will be responsible for paying half the travel costs for workers coming to New Zealand, ensure an average 30 hours of work a week, pay market rates, and pay the costs of removing workers from New Zealand if they overstayed.
They will also have to provide evidence of pastoral care — including suitable accommodation, translation, transportation, opportunities for religious observance and recreation, and induction to life in New Zealand.
Successful applicants will be able to stay in New Zealand for seven months during any 11-month period or nine months in an 11-month period for workers from Tuvalu and Kiribati.
Workers’ permits will be for a specific location, type of work and employer. In some exceptional cases, workers might be able to transfer to another employer, for instance, when a crop failed in one area due to adverse weather and there is a labor shortage in another area.
Cunliffe said workers will be able to return year after year if employers needed them.
Horticulture New Zealand president Andrew Fenton said the policy is “bold and innovative” and will make a big difference to growers needing to get enough workers to harvest their crops at peak times.
The horticulture industry is worth NZ$2.3 billion ($1.7 billion) a year in export earnings and another NZ$2.6 billion ($1.9 billion) a year in fruit and vegetable sales domestically, he said.
Sevele said in a pre-recorded statement that the policy will help unemployed Tongans, provide foreign exchange earnings for Tonga while also helping the New Zealand economy.
A representative from grower Apple, which took part in a pilot scheme, said the Pacific workers involved are hard working, very reliable and a pleasure to work with. The aspect of life in New Zealand that is probably most difficult for them is the weather — even in Hawke’s Bay.