Government Must Expand the RSE Scheme

Government Must Expand the RSE Scheme

The government needs allow more RSE workers into the country, according to the National Party.

On May 2nd the National Party of New Zealand issued a press release urging the government to expand the scope of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

The RSE scheme allows pre-approved employers in the horticulture and viticulture industries to take on workers from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The visas issued under the RSE scheme typical last up to 7 months.
Last year the cap for the number of workers who could come in under the scheme was increased to 11,100.

The National Party claims that employers in the industry are crying out for the government to expand the scheme, as they are currently facing an unprecedented shortage of workers. The party also said that the scheme needs to be expanded to allow an extra 2,000 workers to be hired, in order to meet the requirements of employers.

Employers in the horticulture and viticulture industries are heavily reliant on migrant labour, often taking on seasonal workers on Working Holiday Visas. In some instances, during identified labour shortages, employers can even take on workers on Visitor Visa. However, while employers have access to these temporary workers, National’s spokesperson for Horticulture, Lawrence Yule, still claims that the industry is “crying out for a sustainable form of migration and an extension of the RSE scheme is the most viable option.”

In the 2016-17 season, a total of 10,437 workers came to New Zealand under the RSE scheme. The largest portion of workers came from Vanuatu, which contributed 4,171 workers. Tonga and Samoa followed with 1,822 workers and 1,690 workers, respectively.

Research has indicated that the RSE scheme not only benefits local business but also the home country of the workers. Research has shown that the workers who do come on the RSE scheme often remit significant amounts of funds back home, while also sending back materials and goods, and bringing with them any funds which were saved over the course of their employment.

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