Samoa and participating countries have ‘triple win benefits of the RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employment) scheme with New Zealand.
Samoa’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell also pointed out that New Zealand’s horticulture and viniculture industries have benefited thus an increase in the RSE cap was recommended.
Lautafi made the comments at the RSE Conference that was held in Port Vila, Vanuatu from 17-19 July.
He spoke on the RSE from a wider Pacific perspective.
Lautafi reiterated the importance of effective pastoral care, health and safety support for all RSE workers while in New Zealand; and that exploitation in any form will not be tolerated. The need for strengthening capacity building opportunities beyond RSE for Pacific workers under the Vakameasina programme and other initiatives was also raised.
Vakameasina began in 2010 after a government review of the first year of the RSE scheme decided ‘to fund a pilot training scheme to lift the literacy, numeracy and financial literacy of RSE adult migrant workers, who often had relatively limited formal education.’
Lautafi further made a call for all RSE stakeholders for “more active engagement in the world of work that promotes more sustainable development with combined efforts to help find and shape new pathways towards environmentally sustainable economies in view of the damaging impact of climate change”.
It was also conveyed that Samoa will be happy to host the next RSE conference in Apia if the opportunity is provided.
More than 200 RSE employers and growers from New Zealand, academia, training providers, financial institutions and officials from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) New Zealand attended the conference.
Several speakers presented on a series of topics that revolved around RSE specific to the sustainability of the scheme such as the process of future RSE numbers; the RSE operational review outcome, the RSE policy review process and timeline, strategic outlook; as well as reporting on five challenges that Minister for Immigration, Ian-Lees Galloway laid out at the 2018 RSE Conference.
These five challenges including doing more to employ New Zealanders, improving conditions, increasing wages, and developing automation; developing the infrastructure for all workers, not just RSE; stamp out worker exploitation in New Zealand and along the industry’s supply chains; and work with other industries, such as age care and transportation, to help them with New Zealand’s experience and knowledge.
The Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme is now in its twelfth year and employers are now seeing the predicted and unprecedented growth in the industry sectors that are part of RSE. Stakeholders were urged to consider how they can future-proof the RSE scheme so that it can be the solution to supplying sustainable seasonal labour that it was always meant to be.
The 2019 RSE conference was organised by Horticulture New Zealand, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the Government of Vanuatu.
Photo supplied Captions: MCIL Minister, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell presenting his statement at the 12th Recognized Seasonal Employment (RSE) Conference held in Port Vila Vanuatu.