Time to improve the RSE scheme

That was the message from Tanya Pouwhare, Chief Executive of New Zealand Ethical Employers (NZEE), and Marcus Pickens, General Manager of Wine Marlborough, when concerns were raised about the migrant labour scheme earlier this year.

“The Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme has evolved in the past 15 years, but there is room for improvement and no tolerance for unethical employers who put workers’ wellbeing at risk,” they said in a statement, putting support behind a government review of the scheme.

NZEE, which includes 95% of Marlborough viticulture labour contractors, was launched in 2021, as a voluntary organisation founded on UN principles for businesses to safeguard human rights to which all members must adhere to and are audited against.

Tanya says the community needs assurance that employment and accommodation requirements meet government standards “and are an integral part of the RSE scheme”. As part of the scheme all accommodation must be warm and dry, fully furnished and endorsed by the Labour Inspectorate. All RSE employees are guaranteed a minimum of 30 hours every week at $22.10 an hour or $663 a week, even if the weather prevents them from working, she says. “Our industry acknowledges the high productivity of RSE employees and that they deserve every dollar of the $29.23 an hour earned, on average, in Marlborough’s last pruning season.”

Marcus and Tanya noted that many contractors go well beyond what is required. “The majority of RSE workers are accommodated in purpose-built housing, and cleaners, electricity, gas, linen and wifi are provided in the weekly board. Many travel to Pacific nations to assist their workers to establish off-season businesses for their families or communities.”

The World Bank has described the RSE scheme as a world leader and many RSE employees choose to return to Marlborough here year after year, they note. “But we know we can make the scheme better.”

To read the full statement: marlboroughwinenz.com