Tuesday, 10 May 2022 07:25

RSE scheme 'modern slavery' - claim

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Lawyer Lisa Meto Fox wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the way the RSE scheme is run - similar to the inquiry that Australia has just conducted on its scheme. Lawyer Lisa Meto Fox wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the way the RSE scheme is run - similar to the inquiry that Australia has just conducted on its scheme.

A scheme allowing Pacific workers short-term work on New Zealand orchards and farms is under fire from a human rights lawyer.

Lisa Meto Fox claims the Pacific Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is an example of modern slavery.

A lawyer workingwith Pacific island communities on human rights issues, Fox told Hort News that the New Zealand Government must reform or abolish the RSE scheme.

In February, the NZ Government increased the quota of RSE workers by 1,600, bringing it up to 16,000 people a year. Most of these workers are now in the country.

Fox claims the increase in quota will only allow more exploitation by some employers.

"I think the Government needs to ensure that the workers who come here on the RSE are paid decently and enjoy the same basic human rights and freedoms any person in NZ can expect," she says.

"Until they have reformed the scheme and provide adequate inspections to enforce the reforms then they should not be allowing employers to recruit additional workers."

Fox claims that many RSE workers' movements and behaviours outside of work are being controlled by their employer - something no NZ citizen or person on an ordinary work visa would be subject to.

"For example, no visitors allowed at their accommodation, having curfews, not being allowed to stay away overnight from employer accommodation during their personal time, couples not being provided accommodation where they can share a room, not being allowed to drink alcohol during their personal time outside of work hours. The list goes on."

Fox believes some workers end up paying a high price for coming to NZ.

She says workers having no income for the first month or sometimes longer as they have to work to pay off their debt to the employer for the airfares, vaccinations and visa.

Fox says she has heard of reports of some employers deducting $160 per person for three bunk beds in each room.

"Automatic deductions for things like 'lost cutlery' whether or not the cutlery is actually lost and deductions for travel to and from the farm.

"Sometimes these so-called costs charged to the worker are higher than the actual cost - so the employer is making a profit off providing this 'service'."

Fox says we often read about are the stories of the great successes of this scheme.

"Stories of how generous the Kiwi employers are in helping an RSE worker earn more money here than they would back home.

"But little is told of the restrictions, the patronisation, the lack of options, the pain that they endure."

She claims that RSE workers have no real way to make complaints about their treatment at the hands of their employers.

"If they do complain they could not only face being blacklisted themselves, their families, villages and countries may even face the consequence of not being offered work next season and being labelled troublemakers."

Fox wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the way the scheme is run - similar to the inquiry Australia has just conducted on its RSE scheme.

HortNZ Responds

HortNZ chief executive Nadine Tunley told Hort News that there is no tolerance for poor employers under the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

Tunley says RSE employers would be putting their accreditation at risk through non-compliance.

“The New Zealand Government, in conjunction with Pacific countries and the New Zealand horticulture and viticulture industries, is reviewing the policy around the scheme, to ensure that it continues to provide economic and development benefits to all parties in an ethical manner,” she says.

Tunley also points out that many RSE employers have long-term relationships with their workers and the villages from which they come.

“Pastoral care is huge aspect of the scheme,” says Tunley.

“Many employers have people dedicated to this role.”

She adds that the Government sets minimum wages for RSE workers along with maximum deduction levels. Accommodation must meet the Government’s standards.

Nadine Tunley 2 FBTW

Hort NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley.

“Many employers have invested in purpose-built accommodation.”

Tunley says the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is the lead Government agency for the RSE scheme.

She notes that high commissions of Pacific countries are closely involved in the running of the scheme.

“The Government sets the rules for the scheme and monitors and formally reviews the scheme. Questions about the scheme’s performance need to be directed to MBIE,” she says.

Minister Responds

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says there is no place for dodgy operators in the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme.

He says any employer not valuing the contribution of Pacific workers should lose the right to be part of the scheme.

He was commenting on claims made to Rural News Group's Hort News by Lisa Meto Fox on the poor treatment of Pacific workers.

O'Connor say there have been stages through the RSE scheme's evolution where some employers had to be investigated. But O'Connor sayshe hasn't received any recent complaints about ill-treatment of workers. He says the Government and farming sector appreciates and understands the value of the scheme for all countries involved.

"I don't know of any specific examples of poor treatment of workers but if it's happening, it must stop immediately," he told Rural News.

Damien OConnor 10 FBTW

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor

The RSE scheme, launched in 2007, allows the horticulture and viticulture industries to recruit workers from overseas for seasonal work when there are not enough New Zealand workers.

The cap on workers was set at 5,000 places when the scheme was established in 2007, but the success of RSE has led to increased demand from employers.

The Government recently made the decision to increase the cap to 16,000 for 2021-22.

The RSE policy allows arrivals from the following countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. People employed under the RSE policy may stay in New Zealand for up to seven months during any 11-month period.

More like this

Swift action to support RSE workers

As incredible scenes of seasonal workers stranded on rooftops emerged during the flooding in Hawke's Bay in February, local businesses and community groups leapt into action, providing emergency shelter, clothing and food.

Editorial: Great stories

I am often asked whether it's difficult whether it's difficult to find enough wine stories to fill a magazine.

RSE flights ramp up

Quarantine free flights, bringing much-needed Pacific Island workers to New Zealand, are being ramped up.

Featured

Massey Research Field Day attracts huge interest

More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.

Expo set to wow again

Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.

A year of global challenges

As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.

National

Scanning data at your fingertips

A partnership between two technology companies in Hawke's Bay is making orchard data more easily accessible to growers using new…

Machinery & Products

NH unveils specialty tractor

New Holland recently showcased its new-generation T4.120 F specialty tractor, giving New Zealand customers a closer look at the winner…

Combining track and tyre

While the last fifty years has seen massive evolution and development of the humble tractor tyre, the last two decades…

Croplands goes nuts with Nelson

Croplands and Nelson Manufacturing Company Inc, a California-based manufacturer of air-blast sprayers, has announced a new distribution partnership to deliver…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Review SOEs!

OPINION: NIWA has long weathered complaints about alleged stifling of competition in forecasting, and more recently, claims of lack of…

Bank reset

OPINION: Adding to calls to get banks to 'back off', NZ Agri Brokers director Andrew Laming has revealed that the…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter