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Kiwis who take on gardening jobs could pocket an additional $ 1,000 and get help with housing costs under a new scheme to address the country’s dire shortage of seasonal workers.
Due to Covid-19 border restrictions, New Zealand’s $ 10 billion horticultural industry has been left without thousands of seasonal workers and Kiwis have been reluctant to fill the positions.
The government hopes to change that with new incentives that include a $ 1,000 bonus for workers who complete six weeks or more, up to $ 200 a week for housing, and higher pay when people can’t work.
Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni said getting New Zealanders to work is the government’s “top priority.”
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“Our changes will help address the barriers that unemployed New Zealanders face when considering seasonal jobs, particularly relocation costs and unstable incomes,” he said.
Changes have also been made to the Seasonal Work Assistance Program to provide more support for people who have moved from a benefit to take a seasonal job, but have been unable to work due to bad weather.
George heard / things
The government hopes to attract more Kiwis to gardening jobs with incentives that include a $ 1,000 bonus and up to $ 200 per week for accommodation costs. (File photo)
These workers will now be able to receive the equivalent of the minimum wage up to 40 hours a week, depending on the number of hours lost.
“These changes are part of the Government’s broader response to address labor shortages for our horticulture and viticulture industries, which are major export sources for New Zealand and will be important to our economic recovery from COVID-19.” Sepuloni said.
“The Government is well aware of the need to balance the labor needs of the horticultural and wine industries, as well as those of unemployed New Zealanders and we are working with the industry to ensure that conditions are good and that Kiwis are part of the force. work this season and beyond. “
The changes come a week after the Australian government was reported to be offering a $ 2,000 bonus to Kiwis who moved through Tasmania to work in horticulture.
Under a “relocation assistance” scheme advertised on the Australian government’s job search website, international workers could receive up to $ 2,000 if they relocate to undertake short-term agricultural work.
On Friday, the government also announced a major border exemption allowing 2,000 Pacific horticultural workers to enter New Zealand in the new year under strict conditions.
It is the first significant opening of the border to foreign workers since the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
