Adjustments to the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, including removing the 10% wage premium paid to workers, have been welcomed by the horticultural sector.
The latest changes also include a lift in worker numbers for the coming season, with an additional 1250 staff taking the total to 20,750.
Other key changes to the scheme include the lifting of the requirement to pay Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers a 10% wage premium above the minimum wage. This will now only apply to experienced workers.
Employers will be able to average out workers’ minimum 30 hours a week over four weeks, while the pause on accommodation cost increases has been lifted and allows a capped increase to be applied.
The accommodation and remuneration changes were particularly welcomed by Horticulture NZ CEO Nadine Tunley.
“These were only bought in by the previous government as temporary measures during covid when RSE workers were able to come to NZ under managed isolation and quarantine. The reset will be appreciated by growers.”
Meantime, averaging out RSE workers’ minimum 30 hours a week over four weeks provides more certainty for them, and better reflects the weather-dependent nature of the seasonal jobs they undertake.
The 10% premium had reflected the shortage of staff and difficulties recruiting New Zealanders, particularly post covid.
Tunley said a pay disparity had developed between NZ works and RSE workers, even when the job’s skills were not at the “median skill” level.
Growers will also welcome the improved flexibility for RSE workers to return home in the event of family emergencies, and the ability to move among regions and employers more easily.
Tunley said the sector supports hiring New Zealanders first, but to reach its potential attracting and retaining motivated staff from here and overseas is critical.
“The RSE scheme will continue to play a critical role in this.”
The cap on accommodation costs had meant growers endured five years of inflation without being able to recoup any of those increases, and the removal of the accommodation cap will go a long way in to helping to address this, she said.
NZ Apples and Pears CEO Karen Morrish welcomed the changes coming before the new season kicks off. She said the changes strike a balance between local industry and Pacific Island communities’ needs.
“It will have considerable impact upon the continued viability of the scheme.”
Allowable numbers on the RSE scheme have been steadily rising since its inaugural season in 2007-2008 when just over 4000 workers came to NZ from largely Pacific Island nations.
This number climbed steadily through to over 12,000 prior to covid, before plummeting to 2000 workers who remained over the pandemic during the 2020-21 season.
