Venkat Raman
Auckland, November 27, 2020
RSE workers should be paid $22.10 per hour and be employed for at least 30 hours a week (Photo: Rocket Global Ltd)The government’s announcement that it will allow 2000 horticultural workers to come to New Zealand has been welcomed by some sections of the industry as a ‘good start but not good enough,’ while National Party MP and Covid-19 Response Spokesperson Christopher Bishop reckons that it is ‘too little too late.’
The RSE Scheme
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said that that government had listened to the industry and recognised the looming labour shortage and took the decision.
Under the Registered Seasonal Employer (RSE) Scheme, the government allows migrant workers to come to New Zealand during the harvest season every year.
“We accept that horticulturists and owners of farms and vineyards need help to meet labour shortages that threaten harvests this coming season. Therefore, we are acting to allow up to 2000 experienced RSE workers to come to New Zealand from some Pacific Island countries,” he said.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor (INL Photo)
However, entry into the country will be staggered in view of the limited capacity in Managed Isolation Facilities (MIQ). Workers will arrive in groups, starting in mid-January 2021 to avoid peak holiday demand from New Zealanders keen on coming home for Christmas, he said.
Mr O’Connor said that each worker should be paid at least $22.10 an hour, equivalent to the current Living Wage. Employers should also pay the cost of MIQ per person, which is currently $4722.
However, the industry has been valued at $6.5 billion.
Fear of losing crops
Wine Marlborough General Manager Marcus Pickens told Radio New Zealand that he was grateful that the government had listened to the pleas of the government but 2000 workers would be insufficient to meet the existing demand.
“We need at least 3000 RSE workers during Winter in Blenheim alone. The workers contribute significantly to the economy. I am feeling confident that Winter 2021 will be stronger,” he said.
Central Otago Mayor Tim Cadogan was happy with the decision but the delay in the arrival of the RSE workers will hurt the region.
“There are a few problems. I am worried that the cherries would ripen before the workers arrived in New Zealand. We need about 500 works at the peak of cherry harvest in January,” he said.
(Parliament Picture)
A Poor Deal
Mr Bishop described the government’s decision to allow 2000 horticultural workers as a ‘poor deal for the horticulture industry’ and as a ‘drop in the bucket.’
“Overall, this is a poor deal for the horticulture industry, for the country and for the RSE workers themselves. Firstly, 2000 workers is not enough. It is less than one seventh of quota (which is more than 14,000) of RSE workers the sector would normally have available to pick these key export products. Secondly, it is far too little and far too late. Spring and early summer crops have already missed out on these workers, but the government has known about these problems for months, and is only acting at the eleventh hour,” he said.
Mr Bishop said that RSE workers from Pacific countries should be allowed to isolate in bubbles in RSE accommodation like sports teams provided by the industry.
“The countries where these RSE workers come from are Covid-free and there is little to no risk of transmission in transit as workers will come direct to New Zealand,” he said.
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