Horticulture NZ believes the Government’s changes to the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme will go a long way to supporting the horticulture industry to achieve its goal of doubling the farmgate value of horticultural production by 2035.
The Government has announced a range of policy changes to the RSE scheme.
The changes include lifting the pause on accommodation cost increases and allowing a capped increase to be applied; allowing employers to average out RSE workers’ minimum 30 hours a week over four weeks; and adjusting the application of the 10% above the minimum wage requirement, so it applies to only experienced workers.
”The RSE scheme has served New Zealand growers and the Pacific well for over 17 years and helped boost the economies of Pacific countries thanks to the repatriation of wages — we believe these changes make sense and strike the right balance,” HortNZ chief executive Nadine Tunley said.