Reuters
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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern participates in a televised debate with National leader Judith Collins at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020. Fiona Goodall/Pool via REUTERS
WELLINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - New Zealand will open up one-way quarantine-free travel for seasonal workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu to address labour shortages in the horticulture industry, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.
The quarantine-free arrangement is expected to start from September, Ardern said at a news conference. It will only be available to workers who qualify under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, which allows the horticulture sector to recruit labour from overseas for seasonal work when there are not enough New Zealand workers.
Wednesday, 4 August 2021, 10:17 am
EMA Chief Executive Brett O’Riley is calling for the
Government to declare an overstayer amnesty alongside
allowing more RSE workers from the Pacific Islands to come
here quarantine-free from next month. We know a large
proportion of those who have overstayed their visas are from
the Pacific Islands, and given they are already here and
part of our community, why wouldn’t we be looking at
supporting them first? he asks. There is no doubt
that Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers will fill
labour shortages, particularly in the agriculture sector,
but potentially people for those jobs are here already so
Press Release – EMA EMA Chief Executive Brett ORiley is calling for the Government to declare an overstayer amnesty alongside allowing more RSE workers from the Pacific Islands to come here quarantine-free from next month. “We know a large proportion of those …
EMA Chief Executive Brett O’Riley is calling for the Government to declare an overstayer amnesty alongside allowing more RSE workers from the Pacific Islands to come here quarantine-free from next month.
“We know a large proportion of those who have overstayed their visas are from the Pacific Islands, and given they are already here and part of our community, why wouldn’t we be looking at supporting them first?” he asks.
The chair of a seasonal work programme in Samoa said the New Zealand RSE scheme was well run and well respected in Samoa, and it was great news the two-week quarantine requirement had been dropped for their workers.
Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale said the scheme was in heavy demand, given the impact of Covid-19 on the country s tourism sector, and Samoa was ready to go. The government has a work- ready pool of about 3000 to 4000 people. Six thousand people graduate every year, from schools here and they need jobs. With Covid and everything else that s been happening, there are just not the opportunities for them to work and right now, seasonal work is a great option.
Source: EMA
EMA Chief Executive Brett O’Riley is calling for the Government to declare an overstayer amnesty alongside allowing more RSE workers from the Pacific Islands to come here quarantine-free from next month.
“We know a large proportion of those who have overstayed their visas are from the Pacific Islands, and given they are already here and part of our community, why wouldn’t we be looking at supporting them first?” he asks.
“There is no doubt that Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers will fill labour shortages, particularly in the agriculture sector, but potentially people for those jobs are here already so I’m not clear on why we’re not giving them first crack.”