Unions and economists are joining in a call to overhaul the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme.
New Zealand s Government announced this month about 2400 more migrant workers will be allowed into the country for seasonal horticultural work, many from the Pacific Islands.
Pacific governments remain keen to get as many of their workers into New Zealand s Recognised Seasonal Employer, or RSE, scheme, as possible
But Unions and economists say fruit and vegetable pickers from the Pacific Islands suffer high costs and poor pay and are often left with almost no money to send home.
The value of RSE workers was brought into sharp focus during the Covid-19 lockdown with many growers forced to watch produce shrivel on the vine.
Photo: 123RF
Deceased Samoan seasonal worker was preparing to return home
A Samoan seasonal worker who collapsed and died in New Zealand last week was preparing to return to Samoa on a repatriation flight.
The
Samoa Observer newspaper reported the 39-year-old father from Savaii died in Timaru on Thursday, the day before he was about to depart for Auckland to catch the flight to Samoa.
The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Lemalu Nele Leilua, confirmed the death of the meat processing worker.
The worker did not have Covid-19, with officials saying he had produced a negative Covid test.
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